What is Charismatic Leadership? Can Charisma Drive Change?

Have you ever had a boss that compelled you to do the work through sheer personality alone? Then you might have been under the spell of a charismatic leader.

In this article, we take a deep dive into the charismatic leadership style, looking at its characteristics, history of how the theory was developed and its pros and cons.

What is Charismatic Leadership?

As the name suggests, charismatic leadership is a type of leadership style defined by strong communication skills, persuasiveness and — most importantly — charm. Charismatic leaders use these qualities to galvanise their followers and inspire everyone to share their unified vision.

Not to be confused with transformational leadership, which instead focuses on improving and evolving all team members to reach their full potential.

Characteristics of Charismatic Leadership

• Exude Confidence — Charismatic leaders are completely comfortable in their own skin. They are devoid of self-doubt and shyness, and never buckle in high-pressure situations that put their leadership skills to the test.
• Extraordinary Communicators — Strong communication is vital to charismatic leadership. They pick their words wisely, are well-spoken and steer clear of jargon to make sure everyone — no matter their role — is on board and engaged with their vision.
• Good Listeners — It’s near impossible being a great communicator if you don’t listen. A charismatic leader is attentive in every interaction, and listens wholeheartedly.
• Great Storytellers — An effective leader has the natural ability to tap into people’s emotions. They key to this is using the power of storytelling. Through this influential tool, they can encourage and inspire their followers to take action.
• Strong Vision of the Future — It’s tough following someone with no clear vision for the future. Effective charismatic leaders set clear, realistic, and far-reaching goals that keep their teams motivated and striving to achieve more.
• Creative Minds — Following the rules and not taking risks won’t get you far. These types of leaders break the status quo by providing creative and off-the-wall solutions to everyday humdrum problems.
• Empathetic — Charismatic leaders are sensitive to the needs and emotions of their followers. This empathetic quality allows leaders to truly connect with their team, and helps them navigate delicate situations and demanding production schedules.
• Strict Determination — Keeping to and hitting your goals is another principal characteristic of charismatic leadership. They hit each roadblock with confidence and creativity, never showing any sign of uncertainty.

History of Charismatic Leadership

One hundred years ago in 1922, German sociologist Max Weber’s study that investigated political obligation was posthumously published to the world. The study explored the reasons why people bow to authority and deduced that they follow leaders they perceive to be good, just, and righteous. This insight established that a leader’s legitimacy is subjective to each subordinate.

Weber also had this to say about charisma:

“[A] certain quality of an individual personality, by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, exceptional powers or qualities”.

Weber then went on to cite these three components of charismatic leadership:

• The Psychological Dimension — refers to the inner qualities of a charismatic leader
• The Social Aspect — refers to the cultural influence of society, family, work, or education as a source of charisma
• The Relational Dimension — refers to the affectual relationship between the leader and their followers

Then along came Robert J. House who challenged Weber’s idea that charismatic leadership was more about perception than action. In his paper “A 1976 Theory of Charismatic Leadership”, House set out to prove that the theory was a more testable psychological concept than previously thought.

House believed that charismatic leaders had personal and behavioural characteristics that inspired people to follow them. This sense of loyalty wasn’t born from a subordinate’s fear or financial gain (looking at you transactional leadership) — but instead out of emotional excitement.

This is often why many civil rights leaders get called charismatic leaders, namely Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X and Nelson Mandela.

Examples of Charismatic Leaders

History has had no shortage of charismatic leaders. Here are just a few examples:

• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Mother Teresa
• Fidel Castro
• Nelson Mandela
• Princess Diana
• John F. Kennedy
• Barack Obama
• Satya Nadella
• Malcolm X
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Jacinda Ardern
• Winston Churchill
• Jack Welch
• Steve Jobs

It’s interesting to note that many leaders (especially UK Prime Ministers) will attempt to come across as charismatic. But — as Weber believed — sometimes you’re just not born with it.

Pros and Cons of Charismatic Leadership

Now let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of charismatic leadership:

Pros

✓ Sparks emotional connections with team members and colleague
✓ Creates a shared identity and vision that can boost motivation and produce result
✓ Encourages a culture of learning and development
✓ Puts more emphasis on collaboration and team-oriented support
✓ Encourages positive change inside the workplace and out
✓ Employees are more valued organisations’ turnover rates are decreased
✓ Inspires creativity from everyone — not just leaders

Cons

❌ Charisma is not something easily learned
❌ Requires unwavering time and effort to continue driving support and loyalty
❌ Can lead to rogue leaders who prioritise their own mission over their organisations’
❌ Can come across as inauthentic to outsiders (i.e., potential customers/clients)
❌ Runs the risk of creating a cult of personality
❌ Can destabilise an organisation if a charismatic leader needs to be replaced
❌ Potential for narcissism to take control and blind leaders to their errors

Closing Thoughts

Like other styles, charismatic leadership by itself just won’t cut it.

To quote John P. Kotter, Professor of Leadership (Emeritus) at the Harvard Business School:

“Producing major change in an organization is not just about signing up one charismatic leader. You need a group — a team — to be able to drive the change. One person, even a terrific charismatic leader, is never strong enough to make all this happen.”

And finally — just because your charismatic, doesn’t mean the change you will bring will be for the better. After all, Adolf Hitler is considered an example of a charismatic leader (I did not feel comfortable putting his name alongside the likes of MLK and Nelson Mandela).

Let’s just say: leaders treating their own words as gospel can be problematic to say the least.

If you feel your leaders are too polarising or are seriously lacking in the charisma department, then leadership coaching could make all the difference.

Each of our leadership development programmes are data-driven and underpinned by business psychology tools that will equip your leaders with the capabilities required to lead your organisation through change and transformation successfully.

Find out how I can transform your leaders by getting in touch today! — hello@michaelmauro.co.uk