Primary Professional Military Education (PPME) Block 2 Practice Exam

Transformational leadership emphasizes inspiring and motivating followers to achieve their highest potential and innovate beyond established norms. It fosters an environment where leaders encourage personal and professional growth, promoting a shared vision and commitment to long-term goals. In contrast, transactional leadership is based on a system of exchanges or transactions between leaders and followers, wherein rewards or punishments are contingent on performance. This style is often characterized by clear directives and a focus on meeting established goals through compliance and adherence to processes.

The correct choice highlights that transactional leadership operates on the principle of exchanges, which can involve rewards for achieving specific tasks or penalties for failing to meet expectations. This approach is more about maintaining the status quo than inspiring transformation or change.

Understanding this distinction is important for military leaders, as it informs leadership style selection based on the context and desired outcomes, whether it be to enhance team morale and vision through transformational means or to ensure compliance and task completion through transactional methods.