What is the primary characteristic of transactional leadership?

Transactional leadership primarily focuses on clear tasks and structure, which aligns with directing individuals on what tasks to perform. This leadership style is based on a system of rewards and punishments contingent on performance, typically relying on established protocols and clear expectations to motivate team members. Under this model, leaders outline specific goals and the means to achieve those goals, rewarding compliance and successful completion of tasks.

While characteristics associated with inspiration, creative thinking, and team collaboration are important in other leadership styles, such as transformational leadership, they do not define the essence of transactional leadership, which remains grounded in a more directive and task-oriented approach. This distinction highlights why the focus on telling someone what tasks to perform is indeed the primary characteristic of transactional leadership.