St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) organised a two-day vibrant workshop on ‘Transformative Leadership Styles’ for the Deans, Heads of all departments and other senior officers of the University on March 13 and 14, 2022 at Parasmani, Santiniketan. The first ever outdoor workshop was eventful with talks, activities, group-works and presentations.

Fr. Felix Raj, S.J., Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SXUK delivered the inaugural address on the first day. Father asked all the participants to ‘give their total self into the workshop to be transformed as leaders to shoulder the responsibility of administering the University.’ The resource person for the workshop was Prof. S. Peppin from XIM University, Bhubaneswar. The workshop emphasised on five broad segregations as five ‘Ds’ in the light of transformative leadership styles and approaches which include ‘Define, Discover, Dream, Design and Destiny’.

Adaptation to change is necessary to groom, hone and sharpen transformative leadership style within oneself. As individuals vary from each other in their personalities and perceptions; change, therefore, needs to be responsive, receptive and reactive. The workshop helped the participants to discover key strengths and opportunities of the University and appreciate the same. They also exchanged their views of what they thought of their peers and colleagues in terms of their personalities, skills and abilities.

Participants also unveiled their dreams and expectations for the University, as Vision 2032.The workshop included active participation of every attendee in the form of pictorial presentation, discussion, decision making, logical reasoning, etc. They also discussed about future programmes to be held at Parasmani for the faculty members, officers and staff of the University. Short and long term goals for the development of the University were also discussed. Each session was followed by feedback and brainstorming sessions.

The participants found the workshop enriching, elevating and inspiring. Under the banner of ‘transformative leadership’, the key takeaways were knowledge and acquaintance on how the best leaders can be great teachers and how leaders can personalize instructions to help their employees soar high in profession.

Parasmani, a unit of SXUK, is the Centre for Research and Social Outreach and is located atRatan Pally, Santiniketan, West Bengal.

- Somak Sen