Descriptive summary of transformative belief items within TLS (n = 138)
| Item No. | Option [T = response aligning to a transformative belief System] | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The primary goal of a good leader is to ensure that the organization runs efficiently | 24 |
| [T] The primary goal of a good leader is to ensure an equitable experience for everyone within the organization | 76 | |
| 2 | A good leader believes that everyone is entitled to his/her individual beliefs | 29 |
| [T] A good leader believes it is important to engage people in dialogue about topics like racism, classism, and homophobia | 71 | |
| 3 | [T] A good leader acknowledges that some units need a greater share of resources than others and distributes resources accordingly | 82 |
| A good leader acknowledges that equality is important and distributes fiscal resources equally throughout the organization | 18 | |
| 4 | A good leader focuses on assessing the effectiveness of organizational practices | 43 |
| [T] A good leader focuses on assessing the equity of organizational practices | 57 | |
| 5 | The primary goal of education is to ensure that each student develops the knowledge and skills to be successful | 73 |
| [T] The primary goal of education is to promote a just and inclusive democratic society | 27 | |
| 6 | [T] A good leader takes individuals’ backgrounds into consideration when making decisions | 91 |
| A good leader does not take individuals’ backgrounds into consideration when making decisions | 9 | |
| 7 | A good leader always strives to find a win-win solution to a problem | 24 |
| [T] A good leader always strives to find the most equitable solution to a problem | 76 | |
| 8 | [T] A good leader encourages others to connect with individuals and organizations from around the world | 86 |
| A good leader encourages others to focus on meeting required standards | 14 | |
| 9 | A good leader ensures that the organization’s approach to discipline treats everyone equally | 35 |
| [T] A good leader ensures that the organization's approach to discipline recognizes societal impacts on individual behavior | 65 | |
| 10 | An effective leader emphasizes the importance of a unified position | 4 |
| [T] An effective leader emphasizes the importance of multiple perspectives | 96 | |
| 11 | [T] A strong leader acknowledges his/her responsibility to sometimes resist the rules and policies of the organization | 70 |
| A strong leader acknowledges his/her responsibility to always implement the rules and policies of the organization | 30 | |
| 12 | It is important that members of the organization adhere to the traditional national values of their country | 14 |
| [T] It is important that members of the organization incorporate the values and beliefs of immigrant cultures | 86 | |
| 13 | [T] A good leader knows and acts upon his or her own “non-negotiable” position | 45 |
| A good leader complies with the majority perspective in the organization | 55 | |
| 14 | A good leader acknowledges everyone’s free speech right to express an opinion regardless of what it is | 26 |
| [T] A good leader recognizes that free speech may sometimes need to be curtailed to protect others | 74 | |
| 15 | A good leader supports the development of programs to address current organizational needs | 53 |
| [T] A good leader supports the development of programs that address the individual needs of members | 47 | |
| 16 | [T] A good leader sometimes takes controversial positions in order to advance the goals of the organization | 95 |
| A good leader ensures that all organizational decisions and policies reflect the dominant organizational values | 5 | |
| 17 | [T] A good leader begins by identifying the goals of the organization | 56 |
| A good leader begins by examining the data related to the outcomes of the organization | 44 | |
| 18 | [T] A good leader recognizes that a major challenge to the success of all is an inequitable system | 67 |
| A good leader acknowledges that a major challenge to the success of all is the differing views and practices of various ethnic and socio-economic groups | 33 | |
| 19 | [T] A good leader understands that achieving intellectual growth is dependent on working with all members of organization | 97 |
| A good leader understands that achieving intellectual growth is dependent on eliminating unmotivated, disruptive, or unruly members of the organization | 3 | |
| 20 | A good leader acknowledges that developing individual capacity is unrealistic for the most deeply troubled members of the organization | 14 |
| [T] A good leader acknowledges that high expectations are possible even for members of the organization who are deeply troubled | 86 | |
| 21 | [T] A good leader takes responsibility for the organization’s intellectual progress | 73 |
| A good leader places the responsibility for progress and capacity building on individual members | 27 | |
| 22 | A good leader always implements the requests of his or her superior | 13 |
| [T] A good leader sometimes refuses the requests of his or her superior | 87 | |
| 23 | A good leader believes that the major goal of education is to ensure that each person develops to his or her full academic potential | 68 |
| [T] A good leader believes that the major goal of education is to ensure that each person learns to be a good citizen | 32 | |
| 24 | A good leader determines what is sound based on accepted notions of “best practice” | 19 |
| [T] A good leader determines what is sound based on the needs of his or her unit | 81 | |
| 25 | In the interest of fairness, a good leader ensures that all members, regardless of financial resources, pay the same fees | 3 |
| [T] In the interest of fairness, a good leader waives or modifies fees for members with limited financial resources | 97 | |
| 26 | [T] A good leader believes a socially just education calls for action to redress global injustices and injustice | 27 |
| A good leader believes a socially just education provides a just and inclusive working/learning environment for all | 73 | |
| 27 | [T] A good leader encourages the development of awareness of how global events may relate to, and affect, the community | 87 |
| A good leader encourages the development of competence by focusing on standards and outcomes | 13 | |
| 28 | [T] A good leader acknowledges that having friends and acquaintances from multiple groups helps people to develop positive self-concepts | 57 |
| A good leader acknowledges that individuals develop positive self-concepts by knowing themselves before they are able to form relationships with those from other social groups | 43 | |
| 29 | [T] A good leader respects the aspirations of an individual regarding their career path | 80 |
| A good leader respects the aspirations of an individual’s family and society regarding their career path | 20 | |
| 30 | A good leader waits for an issue to calm down before trying to address it | 21 |
| [T] A good leader acts immediately when an inflammatory issue is brought to his or her attention | 79 | |
| 31 | A good leader takes the dominant moral and religious values of the community into account when approving activities | 7 |
| [T] A good leader approves activities that are inclusive of all, including LGBTQ + individuals, regardless of the dominant community sentiment | 93 | |
| 32 | [T] A good leader provides specific diversity and equity training to all staff when it seems necessary | 63 |
| A good leader makes suggestions of various professional development opportunities for staff but respects the right of each person to choose for themselves | 37 |
| Item No. | Option [T = response aligning to a transformative belief System] | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The primary goal of a good leader is to ensure that the organization runs efficiently | 24 |
| [T] The primary goal of a good leader is to ensure an equitable experience for everyone within the organization | 76 | |
| 2 | A good leader believes that everyone is entitled to his/her individual beliefs | 29 |
| [T] A good leader believes it is important to engage people in dialogue about topics like racism, classism, and homophobia | 71 | |
| 3 | [T] A good leader acknowledges that some units need a greater share of resources than others and distributes resources accordingly | 82 |
| A good leader acknowledges that equality is important and distributes fiscal resources equally throughout the organization | 18 | |
| 4 | A good leader focuses on assessing the effectiveness of organizational practices | 43 |
| [T] A good leader focuses on assessing the equity of organizational practices | 57 | |
| 5 | The primary goal of education is to ensure that each student develops the knowledge and skills to be successful | 73 |
| [T] The primary goal of education is to promote a just and inclusive democratic society | 27 | |
| 6 | [T] A good leader takes individuals’ backgrounds into consideration when making decisions | 91 |
| A good leader does not take individuals’ backgrounds into consideration when making decisions | 9 | |
| 7 | A good leader always strives to find a win-win solution to a problem | 24 |
| [T] A good leader always strives to find the most equitable solution to a problem | 76 | |
| 8 | [T] A good leader encourages others to connect with individuals and organizations from around the world | 86 |
| A good leader encourages others to focus on meeting required standards | 14 | |
| 9 | A good leader ensures that the organization’s approach to discipline treats everyone equally | 35 |
| [T] A good leader ensures that the organization's approach to discipline recognizes societal impacts on individual behavior | 65 | |
| 10 | An effective leader emphasizes the importance of a unified position | 4 |
| [T] An effective leader emphasizes the importance of multiple perspectives | 96 | |
| 11 | [T] A strong leader acknowledges his/her responsibility to sometimes resist the rules and policies of the organization | 70 |
| A strong leader acknowledges his/her responsibility to always implement the rules and policies of the organization | 30 | |
| 12 | It is important that members of the organization adhere to the traditional national values of their country | 14 |
| [T] It is important that members of the organization incorporate the values and beliefs of immigrant cultures | 86 | |
| 13 | [T] A good leader knows and acts upon his or her own “non-negotiable” position | 45 |
| A good leader complies with the majority perspective in the organization | 55 | |
| 14 | A good leader acknowledges everyone’s free speech right to express an opinion regardless of what it is | 26 |
| [T] A good leader recognizes that free speech may sometimes need to be curtailed to protect others | 74 | |
| 15 | A good leader supports the development of programs to address current organizational needs | 53 |
| [T] A good leader supports the development of programs that address the individual needs of members | 47 | |
| 16 | [T] A good leader sometimes takes controversial positions in order to advance the goals of the organization | 95 |
| A good leader ensures that all organizational decisions and policies reflect the dominant organizational values | 5 | |
| 17 | [T] A good leader begins by identifying the goals of the organization | 56 |
| A good leader begins by examining the data related to the outcomes of the organization | 44 | |
| 18 | [T] A good leader recognizes that a major challenge to the success of all is an inequitable system | 67 |
| A good leader acknowledges that a major challenge to the success of all is the differing views and practices of various ethnic and socio-economic groups | 33 | |
| 19 | [T] A good leader understands that achieving intellectual growth is dependent on working with all members of organization | 97 |
| A good leader understands that achieving intellectual growth is dependent on eliminating unmotivated, disruptive, or unruly members of the organization | 3 | |
| 20 | A good leader acknowledges that developing individual capacity is unrealistic for the most deeply troubled members of the organization | 14 |
| [T] A good leader acknowledges that high expectations are possible even for members of the organization who are deeply troubled | 86 | |
| 21 | [T] A good leader takes responsibility for the organization’s intellectual progress | 73 |
| A good leader places the responsibility for progress and capacity building on individual members | 27 | |
| 22 | A good leader always implements the requests of his or her superior | 13 |
| [T] A good leader sometimes refuses the requests of his or her superior | 87 | |
| 23 | A good leader believes that the major goal of education is to ensure that each person develops to his or her full academic potential | 68 |
| [T] A good leader believes that the major goal of education is to ensure that each person learns to be a good citizen | 32 | |
| 24 | A good leader determines what is sound based on accepted notions of “best practice” | 19 |
| [T] A good leader determines what is sound based on the needs of his or her unit | 81 | |
| 25 | In the interest of fairness, a good leader ensures that all members, regardless of financial resources, pay the same fees | 3 |
| [T] In the interest of fairness, a good leader waives or modifies fees for members with limited financial resources | 97 | |
| 26 | [T] A good leader believes a socially just education calls for action to redress global injustices and injustice | 27 |
| A good leader believes a socially just education provides a just and inclusive working/learning environment for all | 73 | |
| 27 | [T] A good leader encourages the development of awareness of how global events may relate to, and affect, the community | 87 |
| A good leader encourages the development of competence by focusing on standards and outcomes | 13 | |
| 28 | [T] A good leader acknowledges that having friends and acquaintances from multiple groups helps people to develop positive self-concepts | 57 |
| A good leader acknowledges that individuals develop positive self-concepts by knowing themselves before they are able to form relationships with those from other social groups | 43 | |
| 29 | [T] A good leader respects the aspirations of an individual regarding their career path | 80 |
| A good leader respects the aspirations of an individual’s family and society regarding their career path | 20 | |
| 30 | A good leader waits for an issue to calm down before trying to address it | 21 |
| [T] A good leader acts immediately when an inflammatory issue is brought to his or her attention | 79 | |
| 31 | A good leader takes the dominant moral and religious values of the community into account when approving activities | 7 |
| [T] A good leader approves activities that are inclusive of all, including LGBTQ + individuals, regardless of the dominant community sentiment | 93 | |
| 32 | [T] A good leader provides specific diversity and equity training to all staff when it seems necessary | 63 |
| A good leader makes suggestions of various professional development opportunities for staff but respects the right of each person to choose for themselves | 37 |
Note(s): *[T] denotes item that aligns with Transformative Leadership theory
Source(s): Table by authors with items adapted from Carolyn Shields original instrument included in Blakeway’s (2023) article
Sharing content requires targeting cookies to be enabled. Please update your cookie preferences to use this feature.