Transformational leadership of school principals is one of the important factors in increasing teacher motivation in schools. The transformational leadership used by the principal has a very big influence in managing his leadership in terms of increasing teacher work motivation. The better the transformational leadership style, the higher the work motivation of teachers in schools so that the quality of the teaching and learning process will be achieved. The aim of this study is to obtain a complete, accurate and up-to-date description of the principal's leadership style in increasing teacher work motivation at elementary school in Banda Aceh. This study used a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. The data collection technique is using observation, interviews, and documentation. The subjects of this study are principals, vice principals, teachers and school supervisors. The results showed that: (1) The transformational leadership style used by the principal showed good results in increasing teacher work motivation at elementary school in Banda Aceh; (2) The efforts that is conducted by the principal are by showing discipline, transparency, transactional, motivational, and kinship, thus showing an increase in teacher discipline, in the good teaching and learning process, the achievements obtained by the school from various competitions and the establishment of good school committee cooperation. , so that it appears that the school atmosphere is kinship; (3) The obstacles faced in implementing transformational leadership in increasing teacher work motivation in schools are the existence of a type of stubborn teacher and does not want to immediately follow the instructions given, as well as the presence of parents who are not attend when there is a parent and committee meetings or other schools' agenda.