Charisma Case Study

Charisma

Jonathan Herbig

Centenary College

Charisma

Leadership is what drives change whether in an organization, culture, or community. Throughout history many great leaders have graced us with their presence including Martin Luther King Jr, Winston Churchill, as well as Mahatma Gandhi. You may ask what do these legendary individuals have in common? Many of history’s most effective leaders can be labeled as charismatic. In 1947 Max Weber was the first to define charismatic leadership as followed, “resting on devotion to the exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person, and of the normative patterns or order revealed or ordained by him” (Day, 2012, p. 260). Weber believed those sporting charisma to be gods among men as, he was not able to explain their “gift”  (Day, 2012). There is no doubting the extraordinary abilities these leaders displayed, but after years of research we are closer to explaining the phenomena that they all shared and it doesn’t involve halos.  

Weber could not distinguish what behavioral attributes charismatic leaders share, but he was able to recognize that charismatic authority differs from bureaucratic authority (Day, 2012). He also states “attitude is revolutionary and transvalues everything; it makes a sovereign break with all traditional or rational norms” (Day, 2012, p. 260). To show an example, look at Martin Luther King Jr. and how he lead a nation of oppressed citizens to challenge what has always been normal with his revolutionary I have a dream speech.

Years later in 1977 Robert House another esteemed researcher, developed the first look into the behavioral components of charismatic leaders; he also observed the psychological impact leaders have on their followers (Day, 2012). His research suggests the underlying reason for charismatic attraction is the emotional relationship experienced between leader and follower (Day, 2012). House believed that charismatic leaders have extraordinary effects on their followers because they display confidence in them selves and their followers, they set high goals and prove that they can be attained (Day, 2012). These leaders essentially become role models and are seen as courageous because of what they have challenged and have achieved (Day, 2012). In focusing on the personal characteristics of charismatic leaders, House argued that they display a high degree of self-confidence, pro-social assertiveness, and moral conviction (Day, 2012). These leaders model what they expect their followers to do, embody the struggle by self-sacrifice, and engage in image-building and self-promotion actions to come across as powerful and competent (Day, 2012).