Charisma

1
Charisma

• From the Greek to favor, to rejoice, to have the
  extraordinary power to heal

2
Definitions

• The ability to engender unusually high trust in
  the correctness of leaders beliefs, affection
  for the leader, willing obedience to the leader,
  identification with the leader, emotional
  involvement of the follower.
• Charismatics are dominant, have extreme
  self-confidence, moral righteousness, and great
  communication skills

3

• Charismatic power can not be transferred from one
  person to another. However it can be
  institutionalized by converting referent power
  into institutional power legitimate authority
  eventually replaces charismatic power. To wit
  HitlergtgtNazi Germany, ChristgtgtCatholic Church,
  Martin Luther KinggtgtCivil Rights Movement

4
disclaimers

• In its pure form, charisma is morally neutral
• History is replete with examples of charismatic
  leaders who inflicted terrible consequences on
  both their followers and their societies
• Current literature explores the how to rather
  than the should I arguments

5
Leader implications

• Exercising charisma is a seductive practice
• Moral and ethical arguments are everywhere
• The line between transformational and charismatic
  leadership is a fine one
• Charisma is very hard to teach

6
Question

• Under what set of circumstances is it effective
  and justifiable to exercise charismatic
  leadership?