Transformational Strategic Leadership in the Public Sector: Modeling Rear Admiral Sayyari's Leadership Style

Objective

Strategic Transformational Leadership—an amalgamation of transformational leadership and strategic leadership—is considered a key driver for the successful implementation of organizational transformation and excellence programs, as well as for ensuring an organization's survival and sustainable productivity in today's dynamic and complex environments. Understanding the nature and practices of this type of leadership within the public sector can serve as a guiding model and a basis for action for senior managers in these organizations as they undertake such a vital role. Accordingly, the present study seeks to design a model of the leadership style of Rear Admiral Sayyari, as an outstanding example of a strategic transformational leader, during his command of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army Navy.

Methods

This research is applied in purpose and qualitative in nature, conducted within the interpretive-constructive paradigm. The participants consisted of experts knowledgeable about the subject—with a history of direct and long-term professional interaction with Admiral Sayyari. Sampling began via purposive judgmental sampling and continued using the snowball technique. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the emergent Grounded Theory method (Glaserian approach). To assess data reliability, intra-subject agreement between two coders was utilized. Furthermore, to ensure the accuracy of the categorizations, expert review and necessary modifications were employed.



Results

The emergent model of Rear Admiral Sayyari's strategic transformational leadership comprises four interconnected core layers: a) the foundational layer of leadership, consisting of human-centered, ethics-oriented, and field-based leadership, which constitutes the philosophical and intellectual bedrock of his approach; b) the empowering leadership approach, focused on developing human and psychological capital as well as fostering motivation and inspiration, which delineates the method for nurturing capable, self-assured, and driven human resources to propel transformation; c) the core thematic layer of leadership, integrating visionary transformational leadership with strategic interactional leadership, which encapsulates the essential character of this leadership style by pursuing comprehensive, purpose-driven change while leveraging intra-organizational synergy and extra-organizational networking to accelerate and facilitate such transformations; and d) the leadership orientation layer, directed toward achieving strategic transformation at organizational, national, and international levels, which signifies the resultant outcomes and accomplishments attained through the application of this leadership paradigm in the pursuit of an excellence-oriented vision.

Conclusion

The integration of transformational leadership capabilities and functions with strategic considerations results in the creation of dynamic capabilities that enhance the likelihood of successful transformational leadership within complex environments and at the macro-organizational level. The model presented in this research elucidates the dimensions of strategic transformational leadership and the relationships between them through a comprehensive and holistic lens. This model can serve as a guiding framework for developing strategic leaders at the top management levels within the defense sector and other governmental organizations. And contribute to enhancing the theoretical knowledge related to this subject at the strategic level of organizations.