A511.6.3.RB - A Leader From the Past


Transformational leadership has been defined as “a process that changes and transforms people” (Northouse, 2016, p. 161).  Transformational leadership “is concerned with emotions, values, ethics, standards, and long term goals. It includes assessing followers’ motives, satisfying their needs, and treating them as full human beings” (Northouse, 2016, p. 161).  

When I reflect upon the people who have had the greatest transformational influence in my life, and have had a hand in helping me become who I am today, one of the names I think of is Larry Durham.  When I was 16 years old I was looking for a job. My little brother’s friend, Nick Durham, said that his father was looking for a helper for his construction company. I asked Nick to mention to him that I was looking for work.  I remember one morning Larry called me and with his big friendly voice explained the nature of the work I would be doing: “You will be operating a piece of earth moving equipment attached to the end of a long pole. . .” my initial thoughts of getting to drive a tractor or piece of heavy equipment were dashed when he finished his explanation, “. . . bring a pair of gloves so you don’t get blisters.”  I realized that he was talking about a shovel.

Larry owned a small residential construction company that specialized in remodels and additions.  Most of the jobs that we did were large projects. Over the three years that I worked for Larry we did several challenging additions.  There were a couple older houses that were originally built as single level homes that we removed the roof and added a second story to.  Larry normally had between three and five employees, and his teenage sons often helped as well. Larry did not tolerate the typical construction worker; because we were doing additions and remodels in homes were people lived he wanted employees who were a cut above the standard image of a rough, cursing, spitting construction worker.

When I ponder on the relationship that Larry and I had while I was working for him I cannot really identify specifically what it was that impacted me so much and affected the direction of my life.  I do not remember him giving motivational speeches, or teaching me life lessons. However, anytime I go back to Portland he is one of the people that I make sure to visit. I don’t even go see the friends I had at the time, that is how big of an impact he had on me.  Northouse (2016) stated that transformational leadership helps “followers reach their full potential” (p. 162). I believe one of the things that Larry did that helped me to reach my full potential was demonstrate that he trusted me. Within a short time of working for him he would leave me small projects to complete.  “Marc, I have a meeting tomorrow morning with a customer about our next job. When you get here in the morning can you finish nailing down that subfloor?” Within a short time his trust grew and he would leave me larger and more complicated assignments. “Marc, can you finish framing up that wall, the plans are on the table.”  He made me feel like I was capable of doing much more than I thought I could do as a sixteen or seventeen year old kid. Bass (1999) indicated that trust and psychological empowerment are important characteristics of transformational leaders.

Northouse (2016)  stated that one of the components of transformational leadership is individualized consideration, “This factor is representative of leaders who provide a supportive climate in which they listen carefully to the individual needs of followers” (p. 169).  No other boss that I have worked for has demonstrated the same level of concern for me as Larry did; they have, for the most part, been transactional relationships. “The transactional leader does not individualize the need of followers or focus on their personal development” (Northouse, 2016, p. 171).  Larry helped me shoot for the stars. As I got older and started taking college courses he was supportive and adjusted my work schedule to fit my school schedule. Larry seemed to have a vision of my potential as a “full human being” (Northouse, 2016, p. 161) and not only the potential of being a good employee.  

Bass (1999) said that “Transformational leadership refers to the leader moving the follower beyond immediate self-interests” (p. 11)  After I had been working with him for a while I remember thinking that I wanted to make a career in construction; I really enjoyed the work, and I enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing a project completed.  However, Larry encouraged me to continue my education, lift my vision higher, and not settle for the easy, immediate path. He helped set me on the course that led me to where I am today. I will always be grateful for Larry’s impact on my life.

References

Bass, B.M. (1999). Two decades of research and development in transformational leadership. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 8(1), 9-32. Doi: 10.1080/135943299398410

Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership Theory and Practice (7th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

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