Relational Leadership: An Analysis of The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Robin Smith Mathis The problem and the solution. The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells describes the remarkable leadership and guidance that women provided their families and friends long before they were leaders in organizations.According to Popper and Mayseless (2003), parents, like transformational leaders, build trust with their children. Parents help guide their children to be autonomous, empow- ering them to believe and trust in themselves.Thus, parents take on the role of leaders; their characteristics and behaviors illustrate a wide variety of leadership theories, such as leader-member exchange and transformational leadership. Set in 20th-century Louisiana, Wells’s (1999) The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood presents an explanation of the relentless support, trust, respect, loyalty, charisma, inspiration, stimulation, and consideration that make women leaders in their personal and professional spheres. Keywords: leader-member exchange; transformational leadership; influence; feminine approach Vivian (Vivi) Abbott Walker,the main character in the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells, is a complicated woman who is difficult to understand; however, leadership theories can undoubtedly explain Vivi’s choices and actions as a mother and friend. Wells’s fiction intentionally reveals the culture of her Louisiana roots; the story depicts a southern culture that is historically accurate to the mid-20th century. Hence, the stories and choices made by the women in this story are colored by the unique Louisiana influ- ence. The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood describes the remarkable leadership and guidance that southern women provide their families and friends; this leadership within families is equally relevant for those who would study organizations (Popper & Mayseless, 2003). According to Popper and Mayseless (2003), effective parents, like transfor- mational leaders, build trust with their children. Generally, they help guide Advances in Developing Human Resources Vol. 9, No. 2 May 2007 199–213 DOI: 10.1177/1523422306298859 Copyright 2007 Sage Publications