The Transformational Leadership of Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr.

Dr. Martin L. King (1929-1969) stood as one of America’s most influential leaders in the twenty-century. Dr. King’s contributions toward the recognition of African Americans as human beings and participating citizens in the United States, represented a critical turning point in the history of the United States. Dr. King represented a strong example of an organizational leader who effectively communicates vision, supports that vision with intellectual depth, and implements self-critique in order to benefit those around him.

Transformational leadership consists of four behavioral categories; idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration (Bass, Avolio, & Atwater; 1996; Sun & Anderson, 2012; Yukl, 2013). Idealized influence represents a behavioral manifestation in which the leader’s behavior galvanizes a group of persons to achieve a particular vision through selfless acts, integrity of values and actions, and willingness to share in the difficulties. Bass, Avolio, and Atwater (1996) state inspirational motivation represents a leadership behavior in which a level of “meaning and optimism” which serves to press followership forward (p.10). The behavior energizes the skills of the group surrounding the transformational leader to accomplish a vision through “symbols to focus subordinate effort” (Yukl, 2013; p. 322). Transformational leaders communicate to followers and the larger context; language, concepts, and words to engage the intellect. A transformational leader illuminates the apparent inconsistencies in the given culture and applies an intricate level of thought, arguments, and persuasion to mobilize followership. The final behavior involves individualized behavior which manifests as development for future leaders. The individualized behavior works towards reformation of a people to arrive at a higher ethical behavior which has implications for the greater society.

The Transformational Leadership of King

Dr. Martin L. King Jr. lived as a transformational leader who demonstrated leadership behavior which mobilized diverse persons by a compelling vision; communicated a stimulating and diverse nonviolent philosophy; and conducted himself with a high level of emotional strength to lead the Civil Rights Movement and eliminate racial inequality. In 1956, Dr. King becomes a leader in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, followed by the cafeteria sit-ins of the 1960’s (Garrow, 1987). Dr. King’s signature moment is the “I Have a Dream” speech that he communicates in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963 within the larger context of The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (Godwin et al). Farris (2009) identifies how the sixties cannot be properly understood apart from the influence of Dr. Martin L. King and his work in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King’s behavior and actions offered one of America’s strongest demonstrations of transformational leadership which extended beyond the African American context and affected all aspects of the American human experience.

Communicating Vision

Dr. Martin L. King offered what could be described as “communicating an appealing vision, and uses symbols to focus subordinate effort” (Yukl, 2013; p.322). Dr. Martin L. King operated in what Brueggemann (2001) termed the “prophetic imagination.” The prophetic imagination involves the speaker in the living process of vision execution working for the realization of that compelling vision through “criticizing and energizing” (Brueggemann, 2001, p. 4).

The second aspect of communicating vision involves the usage of symbols to communicate the vision and focus efforts. Dr. Martin L. King’s ability to invoke a strong vision combined with words of visual imagery owed its genesis to the Black Church.

​The symbols and descriptions Dr. King commonly evoked originated from the Bible such as, “let justice roll down like water” or governmental documents such as the Declaration of Independence which Dr. King stated was the “promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.” These symbols worked to critique the existing situation and compelled listeners to see in some measure what the transformational leader desired to see as a reality.

Intellectual Stimulation

The ability to influence extends beyond persons and includes the influence of events, contexts, or extends from a larger group. Dr. Martin L. King Jr’s appropriate use of power and influence created the opportunity to communicate intellectual stimulation which consists of Scripture, Gandhian philosophy, and human concern which compels groups and government towards a more just society. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. executed his will through the use of cogent, Biblical arguments on the larger stage of public speaking and his personal participation in nonviolent civil disobedience which represents the application of his philosophical approach.

Second, Dr. King implemented power in the form of conflict resolution. Dr. King’s involvement with the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) and the bus boycotts represented an opportunity for Dr. King and his Southern White counterparts to engage in discussions to achieve larger goals.

The third manner in which Dr. King used in the implementation of power manifested in the large pockets of the Civil Rights Movement which acknowledged Dr. King as the leader of the movement. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. demonstrated through the appropriate use of power and moral authority, both shaped by Christian philosophy and Gandhian methodology to offer intellectual stimulation among many followers, the South, and the larger nation.

Emotional Stability and Maturity

Dr. Martin L. King Jr. crafted an approach of nonviolent civil disobedience, which compelled followers to illuminate the issues of segregation and to rescue the soul of the oppressor. This behavior is emotional stability and maturity. According to Dr. Martin L. King, he wrestled with fear and anxiety at the beginnings of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. King (1967) illustrated in some two years prior to his assassination his emotional stability found solace in God speaking the words to encourage Dr. King to stand for righteousness and truth with the certainty of God’s presence. Garrow (1987) comments, “the vision in the kitchen allowed King to go forward with feelings of companionship of self-assurance, and of mission that were vastly greater spiritual resources” (p.442). Dr. Martin L. King’s experience reminds the reader of Jesus emotional experience prior to the crucifixion (Matthew 26:36-46, English Standard Version). While Dr. King’s experience of emotional instability is qualitatively different than that of Jesus Christ, the experiences both contain the subjects under duress because of the situation and the responding encouragement of God.

Therefore, transformational leaders have a level of self-awareness about themselves which compels him or her to pursue personal care before proceeding to lead others to care for others. Dr. Martin L. King approach to nonviolent civil disobedience requires an emotional stability and maturity that demonstrates a care for other people.

Conclusion

Dr. Martin L. King Jr. represented himself as a transformational leader who demonstrated leadership behavior which mobilized diverse persons by a compelling vision; communicated a stimulating and diverse nonviolent philosophy; and conducted himself with a high level of emotional strength to lead the Civil Rights Movement and eliminate racial inequality.

Organizational leaders in diverse contexts possess the opportunity to communicate a vision that critiques the current situation which leads to the energizing of a group of people to draw the compelling vision into reality. Additionally, leaders have the responsibility to develop themselves and those around them in a manner that elevates intellectual capacity and emotional stability for the good of humanity.