Since the late 1970s, transformational leadership has been used as a key approach to understanding leadership. Previously, trait approaches, transactional approaches and others were used to explain and understand leadership. Although these leadership approaches have been, and continue to be, used in leadership circles, the transformational approach has become known as a more complete, complex and motivational approach than others, as it appeals to workers’ higher-level needs of love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization, as identified by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Hackman & Johnson, 2013).