Abstract
The various forms of persuasive tactics are ideal for public leadership in effectively gaining and leading an audience. Public leaders have a great responsibility in effectively leading an audience, crowd or various forums to complete a goal. How the public leader interacts with potential followers can determine if and when a task will reach completion. The documentation below will cast some light into the various persuasive forms of leadership, followed by an evaluation of persuasive tactics used to facilitate change. As change is often met with resistance persuasive tactics are ideal. Two sources referenced as credible tactics are logical and transformational. The documentation includes two prominent public figures First Lady Michelle Obama and Billionaire Oprah Winfrey in reference to successful persuasive skills used to influence followers and votes. The information shared is from the perspective of a student. The intent is not to discredit the authors or public figures of any credit for works performed.

* Persuasion

Contrary to what people may believe, persuasion is healthy and rewarding! According to (Rusaw), transformational leaders use tactics to educate and inspire followers to achieve a completed goal or task. As differences in views may label persuasion as being manipulative, in leadership the task is warranted. Great public leaders possess skills and tactics for gaining supporters and followers that aid political forums and completion of task. The document below will review various persuasive forms of leadership and how facilitating change requires persuasive tactics.
Persuasive Forms of Leadership
To persuade a leader must gain the trust of his or her audience. To gain trust a leader must be creative and idealistic. This characteristic of a leader is built through innovation. Rusaw stated that being innovative can make a leader more idealistic because he has the chance to develop more options and ways to succeed (Rusaw, 2001, p. 200). Once a leader gains the trust of an audience, the task of persuasion is implemented. The implementation of persuasion is created by identifying what and how an audience should follow. This task is a direct reflection of the leader’s credibility and reputation. Once the task of how and what is identified the deliverance is consistent which contributes to the growth of communicating as well as soliciting feedback.

Communication
When a public leader is able to provide consistency in delivering a position or a task for change the audience or follower, is likely to listen. Through consistency a public leader is able to sustain trust by his or her followers. In addition, the opportunity for feedback is introduced which encourages the public’s involvement. Public leaders can unite with followers through effective communication. Meaning, a public leader’s expertise in a subject matter, presented to followers with logical intent for transformational changes, alludes to persuasion.

Reputation
The reputation of a public leader is built through credibility. Solid credibility is gained through performance and results. Contributor Glenn Llopis of Forbes Magazine stated, “A leader’s reputation is doomed by reaching toward perfection” (Forbes 2014). The statement adds volume to a public leader’s reputation. Meaning a leader is equipped to address and lead when the public’s interest is connected to the leader’s agenda. For example, First Lady Obama’s reputation is noted as an influencer. Lady Obama has encouraged and influenced the public audience to live healthier through nutrition and wellness programs. In addition, her message has reached massive people through communities, educators (schools) and social media (White House 2014). Persuasion Tactics within Leadership
Persuasive tactics used within leadership are most effective when facilitating change. Whether the forum is political or through society change is constant, so persuasion is evident as a source to gain an audience. As the forum changes, so will the type of persuasion tactics. Leaders uses their influence and make others follow them by employing tactics like persuading them through rewards and motivations and making them believe that they are part of a group (Rusaw, 2001, p. 71). Noted effective persuasion tactics include effective communication, collaboration, and credibility, inspirational, logical and transformational.
As the tactics listed are notable characteristics each play a vital role in completing a task or implementing change. This is an election year, the public has witnessed persuasion tactics from every political figure. Each political figure has the expectation that he or she will gain the public’s vote. However, the political figures task is greater as empowerment and building relationships with followers is essential in gaining trust or a vote. Empowerment and building relationships with followers’ shows commitment from the public leader in supporting the designated cause or purpose. Public leaders can unite with followers through effective communication. Meaning, a public leader’s expertise in a subject matter, presented to followers with logical intent for transformational changes, alludes to persuasion.
Effective Persuasive Tactics: Logical and Transformational
Leaders generally use various types of persuasion tactics to complete a goal. As the leaders expectations is to complete a task, the public’s vote or input is required to achieve success. Two persuasive tactics that would be considered most effective are logical and transformational.
Logical
Logical persuasion is a tactic used to gain followers. A public leader who uses logical persuasion as a tactic to gain followers should consider rational appeal. As logic and rational comingle, the public leader approach will need to appeal to his or her audience. Meaning, is the information shared logical to the audience and from a credible source. Billionaire Oprah Winfrey is a public leader whose influence to lead a mega crowd defines persuasive tactics. For instance, as a public figure in television, social media and one who illustrates change, through logical agreements, Winfrey was able to gain followers. In December 2007, Oprah Winfrey campaigned for current President Obama which gained crowds and recognition as one of the largest primary seasons. When a public leader identifies a cause or task that the masses can relate to or with credibility, the results often end with influencing the audience to follow.

Transformational
James MacGregor Burns an expert in leadership and biographer of presidential figures introduced the concept of transformational leadership. The tactics commonly used are moral and motivated for positive change. The transformational leader’s characteristics expresses energetic, enthusiastic and passion all which motivates followers (About 2014). The leader’s ultimate goal is to attain followers for completion. After Burns introductory of transformation leadership tactics, researcher Bernard M. Bass expanded on the impact and influence of followers suggesting transformational leadership tactics are segregated by four categories: intellectual, individualized, inspirational and idealized (About 2014).
As mentioned above First Lady Obama is an iconic public leader that exemplifies Bass’s theory of intellectual, individualized, inspirational and idealized. As society has a history of differences, First Lady Obama does not let that spectrum of differences deter her goals and spirits to motivate others. Some may argue the recognition of followers may be position driven. However, statistics and reports show different. Prior to the Obama’s presidential run, accomplishments through communities and neighbors were made. First Lady Obama has held prestige positions from a lawyer to assistant commissioner of planning and development in Chicago as well as Vice President of Community and External Affairs for the University Of Chicago Medical Center (White House 2014). The ability to cast the same persuasive techniques of transformational leadership from a Chicago community to the White House is a significant accomplishment.
Conclusion
The power of persuasion can be described by the tactics used to gain an audience. Great public leaders rely on various persuasive forms and tactics to gain an audience. But sustaining an audience’s loyalty or dedication is guided by the public leader tactics to persuade. Public figures First Lady Michelle Obama and Billionaire Oprah Winfrey illustrate how persuasive forms of communication and reputation contribute to creating credibility in introducing persuasive tactics of logical and transformational changes to an influenced audience.

References
About.COM (2014) Retrieved October 2014 from website; http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/a/transformational.htm Biography (2014) Retrieved October 2014 from website; http://www.biography.com/people/oprah-winfrey-9534419#related-video-gallery Forbes (2014) Retrieved October 2014 from website; http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2014/04/14/one-powerful-way-to-control-your-leadership-reputation/ Rusaw, C. (2003). Leading Public Organizations: An Interactive Approach. Belmont, CA:
White House (2014) Retrieved October 2014 from website;
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama