Paper Example on Al Gore Transformational Leadership

An Inconvenient Truth is a film that shows Al Gores campaign to the citizens urging them to take various steps to reduced global warming. He adopts a bold step to speak against activities that bring about global warming. The result of his campaign is creating awareness among the masses as well reenergizing the environmentalists. Through the approaches, practices, and principles applied by Al Gore, it is evident that he is a transformative leader. Despite his commitment and devotion to share through the slides the reality of global warming, he faces difficulties created by the societal context. However, he devises various strategies to deal with that resistance to make sure that his message gets to his targeted audience.

Al Gore pursuit for green technology for many years and the motivation that that is the right approach to life is what made him offer those public lectures. According to him, the risks associated with continued emissions of the carbon dioxide in the air are too high that unless something is done, the earth may be less habitable. Further, he suggests meat consumption should be dropped for vegetarian diet since taking meat not only releases carbon dioxide into the air but also leads to consumption of too water much in the process. His suggestions touch on the lives of people and a requirement of transformation on how people think. For instance, a person should ask themselves how what they are doing is affecting nature and the environmental sustainability. He suggests that people should use only the least quantities of water even though can afford even more. Apparently, he alludes to a lifestyle that people care for posterity through using less electricity, buying expensive cars that use emit carbon dioxide into the air, and using less energy in the households (Gore, 2013). Otherwise, if the society is unwilling to take up that life will continue as normal, but gradually life in the earth will be unsustainable with rising difficulties sand diseases. For instance, he attributed this careless lifestyle and use of chemicals to the increased occurrences of cancer which is currently claiming the more lives than HIV/AIDS. The increased rate at which ice is melting on mountain tops will result in rising sea levels, flooding and eventually displacement of people living in the coastal regions. Additionally, favorable weather for the growth of food will not be possible, and thus food availability and accessibility will reduce significantly in the long run.

Despite his efforts as a leader to take his time and energy to prepare that content, the society is unwilling to make the adjustments in their lives to reduce global warming. He has experienced critics some suggesting that his explanation about global warming is exaggerated and the scientific facts are biased. Some have also suggested that the risks are not as severe as he wants to show the people and thus he is taking advantage of individuals who fear the aftermaths of global warming. In fact, some have argued that Al Gore being a politician was trying to build his political power by advocating in green technology. Other allegations suggest that he has invested in green technology and by sharing that information he would like people to get into green technology and be his clients. As such, some people doubt his genuineness in trying to assist the citizens to see the logic and need for a paradigm shift. However, those critics have not changed Al Gores persuasion about a better lifestyle and consideration of the posterity. He has continued to lecture and show his slides and have campaigns and seminars that create awareness regarding global warming. In responding to one of the critics, he argues that his pursuit and investment in green technology is because it is in line with his values and nothing political. Apparently, he stated that the returns from his business are used in creating awareness about global warming and what can be done. His organization is a non-profit one and in a sense he set it up to be the platform where updated information of global warming can be propagated.

Al Gore as a good leader has planned his lectures such that they are relayed in a manner that leaves the greatest impact. In the slide shows, because he knows his audience well that not all people are scholars, he simplifies his language and uses various teaching aids. The visual diagrams including the charts and graphs and pictorials about various interrelationships help in ensuring that message are home (Gore, 2006). The audience seems mesmerized and amazed by his presentation. Also, he not only uses scientific knowledge to relay the message but also emotions and his experiences as a person. He tells the audience of a family member who died because of his cancer and friends he has seen suffer following the direct or indirect effects of global warming. Notably, Al Gore uses emotions Such explanations in the movie allows the people to realize that the effects are already on the earth and a changed lifestyle would avert the consequences and reverse most of those adverse effects. Through such approaches, it is apparent that Al Gore had prepared and planned adequately to share his findings and conclusions.

Transformational leaders plan and prepare well before taking any action. Such leaders aim and strive to communicate their vision in a way that is understandable. Further, they strive to lead from the front, paying the required price for such actions. This happens through utilizing various strategies like communication of the same message over and over and placing serious emphasis on critical points (Clutterbuck and Hirst, 2002). Such is so persuaded and passionate about their goals such that nothing can stop them from their course of action. Al Gore is such kind of a leader because, despite the various antagonists who think he is misinformed and that he is exaggerating the information, he is prepared to answer all of them with factual information. When he suggests that a vegetarian diet is the best approach, he not only says so in the paper but he practices that as well. That makes his credible since he does what he believes in and acts in line with his values. The example of him not taking meat serves as a leadership strategy, and more people are likely to follow unlike if he only said and left it at that. Additionally, his ability to communicate with those opposing his ideologies shows a high level of intelligence and emotional stability since he does not believe it personal (Bass and Riggio 2006). He allows people to be critical yet remains sold out for his cause. That is, his determination to see a change in the society is uppermost in his mind and no matter what is unwilling to relent. Leaders have something to stand for, a worthy course that they are willing to follow whatever the price.

Al Gores confidence and action orientation have remained key pillars in his progress throughout his over thirty years journey. In the movie, he states that he had shared those slides over a thousand times. He not only tells the people that there is a need for change but rather provides practical ways in which that change can be realized (Judge and Piccolo 2004). He helps people understand why that change is important ensuring that none of his viewers are left behind. He articulately communicates the hindrances to that change and how obstacles towards change can be overcome. Further, he wisely helps people see the different outcomes in the future based on the actions of people currently. For instance, the explanation that continued misuse of non-renewable resources and changes in the usage will bring different results which are like parallel lines which cannot meet. Therefore, in a sense, Al Gore in helping his viewers understand where they are in environmental sustainability, where they ought to be and how they can get there exhibits great leadership that can bring lasting change.

In conclusion, Al Gore can be termed as a change leader since he took personal responsibility to bring about the required change. Further, he is ready and prepared to deal with any criticism that comes his way. Further, through the film, it is evident that Al Gore was persuaded about the change and that is why he ably shared his vision many times through various platforms because of that commitment. He plans on the best way to relay his message, and that is why he chooses visual aids just to make sure that the information is received.

References

Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership. Psychology Press.

Clutterbuck, D., & Hirst, S. (2002). Leadership communication: A status report. Journal of communication Management, 6(4), 351-354.

Gore, A. (2006). An inconvenient truth: The planetary emergency of global warming and what we can do about it. Rodale.

Gore, A. (2013). Earth in the balance: forging a new common purpose. Routledge.

Judge, T. A., & Piccolo, R. F. (2004). Transformational and transactional leadership: a meta-analytic test of their relative validity. Journal of applied psychology, 89(5), 755.