Charismatic Leadership

Charismatic leader build trust and establish credibility with their followers by self-monitoring. They gain trust from their follower through visible self-sacrifice and taking personal risks all in the name of their beliefs. They use empathy and warmth in their communication with others to establish trust. Charismatic leaders also establish trust and credibility by presenting a persona of unshakeable self-confidence, strong moral conviction and constant optimistic outlook. They show commitment to their followers and the goal, appearing to place followers’ needs above their own. Furthermore, they build trust and credibility from their proven track record or created legacy. The charismatic leader inspires confidence by establishing a strong bond with their followers. The bond is so strong that the followers are enthusiastically inspired to be unconditionally loyal, devoted, obedient, and committed to the leader and to the cause the leader represents. By observing the leader display of self-confidence, followers develop self-confidence themselves. The followers are more likely to have greater confidence in their ability to contribute to achievement of the charismatic leaders goals. The relationship between the charismatic leader and followers is often very emotional. The emotional component involves feelings of satisfaction derived from the pursuit of a worthwhile goal and from optimistic beliefs and values about life. The relationship between the charismatic leader and the followers is comparable to that of a parent and child relationship of love, devotion, and commitment. The strong belief in the vision the charismatic leader communicates is the key factor in distinguishing charismatic leader’s followers from those of other types of leaders.

Exploring Charismatic Leadership in the Public
Sector: Measurement and Consequences
This report looks at four areas of charismatic leadership (1) energy and determination; (2) vision; (3) challenge and