4.11.1 Leader Inventory (TLI)

Purpose

The Transformational Leader Inventory (TLI) is a tool designed to measure transformational leadership qualities in mid-level and lower-level leaders, especially those going through leadership development programs within the military. It draws upon the full-range leadership model developed by Avolio and Bass (1995), which encompasses both transformational and transactional styles.

Description

The Transformational Leadership Inventory (TLI), created by Podsakoff et al. (1990). Later revisions by Hardy et al. (2010) and Vella et al. (2012) resulted in the Differentiated Transformational Leadership Inventory (DTLI), a more refined version of the TLI. Northouse (2021) proposed a simplified version of the TLI using a 5-point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). This shorter version focuses on eight key questions assessing vision and contingent reward, allowing leaders to identify their dominant style: transformational or transactional (Northouse, 2021, pp. 219-220).

Access

The various versions of the TLI may be accessible via academic journals and research databases, including in the relevant articles listed in the references section. Prior to usage, permission from the authors or copyright holders may be necessary. Contact the authors directly or consult the articles for more information on the availability and permissions.

References

Avolio, B. J., & Bass, B. M. (1995). Individual consideration viewed at multiple levels of analysis: A multi-level framework for examining the diffusion of transformational leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 6(2), 199–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/1048-9843(95)90035-7

Hardy, L., Arthur, C. A., Jones, G., Shariff, A., Munnoch, K., Isaacs, I., & Allsopp, A. J. (2010). The relationship between transformational leadership behaviors, psychological, and training outcomes in elite military recruits. The Leadership Quarterly, 21(1), 20–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2009.10.002

Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). Sage Publications.

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Moorman, R. H., & Fetter, R. (1990). Transformational leader behaviors and their effects on followers’ trust in leader, satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behaviors. The Leadership Quarterly, 1(2), 107–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/1048-9843(90)90009-7

Vella, S. A., Oades, L. G., & Crowe, T. P. (2012). Validation of the differentiated transformational leadership inventory as a measure of coach leadership in youth soccer. The sport psychologist, 26(2), 207-223.