James McGregor Burns

James McGregor Burns was a prominent American political scientist and leadership scholar known for defining two types of leadership: transactional and transformational. Transactional leadership involves exchanges or rewards for performance, managing short-term tasks. Transformational leadership, which Burns emphasized more, inspires and motivates followers to achieve higher ideals and personal growth, fostering significant change. His work has deeply influenced how we understand leadership dynamics in politics, organizations, and society, highlighting the importance of vision, integrity, and inspiration in effective leadership.