Life and contributions of James McGregor Burns

James McGregor Burns was born on August 3^rd , 1918. In 1943-1948 Burns served as combat historian in the Pacific Theater and was awarded the Bronze Star and four Battle Stars. Moreover in 1952 he co-wrote "Government by the People: The Dynamics of American National Government" and "Government by the People: The Dynamics of American State and Local Government". As you can see, Burns specialized in the study of leadership in American history and political life, but one of his most important contributions was that in 1978 he coined the theory of "transformational leadership" – leadership that delivers true value, integrity, and trust– to describe the ideal situation between leaders and followers. His book, Leadership, is still considered the seminal work in the field of leadership studies. Burns has shifted the focus of leadership studies from the traits and actions of great men to the interaction of leaders and their constituencies as collaborators working toward mutual benefit.