In his theory, Burns emphasizes the importance of building relationships over authoritative presence. While it is important for subordinates to know who is in charge, it is not necessary for the leader to abuse her power by belittling workers. Instead, Burns suggests that leaders build a positive relationship with subordinates by acting in a morally acceptable manner. If a leader wants the garbage collected on all business floors, then she should be the first to get a trash bag and dispose of waste. By doing so, the leader shows subordinates that she values their work and is willing to help when needed.
Working from Burns' moral approach, Thomas Sergiovanni establishes a model of leadership for teachers and administrators to follow. According to Sergiovanni, schools are moral communities that connect families and educators. Such connections between personal and professional life must be the core of establishing a well-rounded community in school. A child cannot be expected to perform well in school if his personal life is in disarray. Likewise, a teacher cannot effectively instruct such a child without first addressing his personal needs.
Also using Burns' theory as a guide, Leithwood presents six dimensions of leadership in his school theory. According to Leithwood, schools succeed when goals are explicit and individuals receive the support necessary to accomplish such endeavors. A school that secretly hopes for teachers to try new tactics in the classroom will not succeed. On the other hand, a school that clearly outlines its expectations has the potential to succeed. In his dimensions, Leithwood emphasizes the importance of high performance expectations and professional practices. Administrators and educators should essentially strive to be the best while remaining within ethical boundaries.
Although Burns, Sergiovanni and Leithwood present persuasive theories on leadership, the theories are merely academic without implementation. While instructing students, teachers should be mindful of the transformational leadership theories and implement them whenever possible. Utilizing leadership theories will contribute to more effective teaching and better learning outcomes.