Transformational vs. Transactional Leadership in Coaching: A Guide for Building Success

I wrote several papers on leadership and Alabama legendary football coach Nick Saban in graduate school in 2013. His book “How Good Do You Want to Be” is amazing and I was able to get most of my research on him from that. The way he leads has always fascinated me. I have heard him talk about how he went from practicing transactional leadership to becoming a transformational leader and the difference it made in his career and the success of his teams. His most recent discussion came on ESPN College Game Day several weeks ago.

I did more research from his discussion and created a guide to help Coaches better understand the importance of and how to apply transformational leadership to coaching your athletes. All coaches can and should be using this type of leadership, and that it translates across all types of coaching. In coaching, be careful of the leadership style you adopt, as it can have a significant impact on your team’s (Student-Athletes) success, morale, and culture. For this guide, we will look at two common leadership styles, transactional and transformational leadership, and how they produce drastically different results.

Transactional Leadership: The Short-Term Focus

Coaches who are transactional leaders emphasize immediate performance and outcomes, often focusing solely on wins and losses. This type of leadership is driven by a system of rewards and punishments where success is measured by victories, and failure is met with consequences. While this approach can create short-term results, it often damages the morale of your athletes. This type of leadership makes athletes begin to feel that their value is tied solely to outcomes, which fosters a fear-based environment as they become afraid of failure and bad results. Without proper teaching or mentorship, these negative experiences from failure and bad results can destroy team culture, leading to disengaged players, decreased motivation, and a lack of development.

Transformational Leadership: The Long-Term Vision

In contrast, transformational leadership focuses on developing the whole player—both on and off the field. Transformational leaders don’t just care about the next win; they care about their athletes’ long-term growth and well-being. This leadership style is rooted in mentorship, guidance, and a commitment to instill values that players can carry with them for life.

When leaders take this approach, they become role models that players look up to and want to emulate. The goal isn't just winning games but teaching life lessons through sport.

Transformational leaders genuinely care about their players' development and not merely about their own accolades. They focus on teaching players the process of developing and how to become better athletes and individuals. As a result, athletes feel valued, respected, and empowered to take ownership of their development, leading to long-term success both on and off the field.

Creating a Vision and Plan as a Transformational Leader

Transformational leaders are visionary. They know what they want to accomplish and how to lead their team to that goal. Here are three ways to create and communicate your vision effectively:

1. Define a Clear Purpose: A transformational leader should set a clear and inspiring purpose that goes beyond just winning games. It could focus on developing players’ character, building a team culture of excellence, or fostering long-term development.

2. Engage the Team in Goal Setting: Rather than dictating goals, involve your players in the process. This not only creates buy-in but ensures that everyone is working towards the same objectives. Set process goals that guide daily efforts rather than just focusing on outcomes.

3. Create a Roadmap with Milestones: Break down the vision into manageable steps that the team can track over time. Celebrate small victories along the way, which can keep players motivated and focused on continual improvement.

The Power of Value-Based Leadership

Value-based leadership is central to transformational leaders. By instilling strong principles like integrity, respect, accountability, and resilience, coaches equip their athletes with tools for success in life, not just on the field. Here are three ways value-based leadership helps players succeed:

1. Focus on Character Over Skill: Players understand that their worth is tied to their character and work ethic, not just their performance. This builds long-term resilience.

2. Encourage Personal Accountability: Players learn that taking responsibility for their development is key to success, both in sports and life.

3. Emphasize Team Culture: Creating a positive environment where teamwork and mutual respect are valued builds a foundation for success that goes beyond individual games.

Leveraging Teaching Moments for Success

Transformational leaders use every opportunity to teach, even in difficult moments. Here are three ways transformational leaders can leverage teaching moments:

1. Turn Losses into Lessons: After a defeat, rather than focusing on the mistakes alone, ask players to reflect on what they learned from the experience. This helps them grow and reduces the fear of failure.

2. Praise Effort and Improvement: Reinforce the process by recognizing small improvements rather than just focusing on the outcome. This boosts morale and encourages continuous growth.

3. Use Adversity to Build Resilience: When players face challenges, transformational leaders help them see these moments as opportunities to develop perseverance, a key trait in both sports and life.

Properly Evaluating Reality for Effective Leadership

A critical aspect of transformational leadership is the ability to properly evaluate reality. This means assessing your team’s current state, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and developing a plan that addresses both. Leaders who can objectively assess situations are more effective in guiding their teams toward long-term success.

Transformational leaders focus on process rather than outcomes. They understand that by perfecting the daily grind and incremental improvements, success will eventually follow. This contrasts with transactional leaders who are only focused on immediate outcomes, often at the expense of long-term development.

Caring About Player Development Over Self-Gratification

Transformational leaders prioritize their players’ benefit, growth, and well-being over their own short-term satisfaction. They see success in their players' development, not in personal recognition or accolades. This is crucial because when players feel like their coach is invested in their success, they perform at a higher level and buy into the vision of the team.

Implementing Value-Based Success

Transformational leaders are value-based in how they approach success. Here are three examples of how this can be implemented:

1. Teach Integrity: Show players the importance of doing the right thing even when no one is watching. This could be about how they practice or how they interact with teammates.

2. Encourage Accountability: Give players responsibility for specific aspects of their development and hold them accountable. They’ll learn that they control their success.

3. Celebrate Team Success Over Individual Achievements: Reinforce the idea that the team’s success is more important than any single player's accomplishments.

A Plan for Coaches: Focusing on Passion, Not Self-Gratification

For transformational coaches, the goal is to be passionate about building something of value for the future, not seeking immediate gratification. Here’s a plan to help coaches focus on long-term vision:

• Identify a Cause You Care Deeply About: Whether it’s player development, building a winning culture, or teaching life lessons, find something you’re passionate about.

• Set a Long-Term Goal: Make sure it’s something that will make a lasting impact on your players and the program.

• Focus on Day-to-Day Improvements: Break down that long-term goal into daily actions that align with your vision. Celebrate small wins with your team.

Conclusion

Transformational leadership is the key to building long-lasting success in sports teams. By focusing on the development of players as individuals, not just as athletes, transformational leaders create a culture where players can thrive. While transactional leadership may bring short-term victories, it fails to provide the foundation for sustained success. Transformational leadership not only benefits the players but also fosters a more fulfilling coaching experience by focusing on growth, values, and a vision for the future.