Final answer:
Angela Merkel's transformational leadership style is exemplified by her response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where she gained high approval ratings for her consensus-driven and rational approach. Her ability to inspire confidence and unite people towards common goals highlight her effective crisis management, despite later challenges for her party.
Step-by-step explanation:
Angela Merkel is known for her transformational leadership style, a concept often discussed in the context of political science and leadership studies. One of her notable decision-making approaches was during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Pew Research Global Attitudes survey in summer 2020, 88 percent of Germans felt their country managed the crisis well. Merkel's consensus-driven and science-based approach to the pandemic exemplifies her style, gaining high approval ratings domestically and showing her effectiveness in crisis management.
Although her support waned over time and her party suffered in subsequent elections, Merkel's leadership during the pandemic demonstrated key features of transformational leadership such as inspiring confidence and uniting people towards a common goal in facing a global challenge.
Her leadership in this period is characterized by taking a candid and rational stance, effectively communicating with the public, and making pragmatic decisions based on the advice of experts. These traits reflect an adaptation of transformational leadership to the needs and challenges of her time as Chancellor.