Transformational Leadership In Braveheart

For my reaction paper I decided to analyze the leadership style of William Wallace who is the main character in the movie “Braveheart”. The movie is inspired on a real Scottish hero who fought against the tyranny of King Edward who ruled over Scotland ruthlessly in the 1300’s.
I chose William because he embraces the Transformational leadership style at a very high extent.

The Transformational leader focuses on the high-level needs of his followers such as self-esteem, self-actualization and self-fulfillment. A transformational leader uses his charisma to provide a vision and a mission for his followers. To reach those goals he coaches his followers though the difficulties of the job by considering every individual. He inspires his followers

Although he is seen as the absolute leader of the rebellion Wallace wasn’t alone in the war against the Englanders. He empowered some of his followers who showed bravery on the battlefield. Wallace would encourage his followers on participating in the decision making process, he believed and accepted their opinions and solutions to some matters. At one point of the movie Wallace had to deal with the Irish ally of his enemy, he himself wasn’t able to deal with the Irish menace. William decided to listen to one of his close followers and let him handle the problem. His follower convinced the Irish army to join as comrades in arms against the British. Wallace showed demonstrated true willingness to listen to his man, and proving that he possess another trait of the transformational leader. The last characteristic that made William a transformational leader was the passion with which he entered the battlefield. He was convinced of his ideals and desired nothing more than the freedom of the Scots. Even at the moment of his execution he was tortured and asked to ask for forgiveness to the King of England and swear fidelity to the England, Wallace refused by shouting freedom with his last