Charismatic Leadership

Abstract Some of the most exemplary and influential leaders throughout history have been described as charismatic leaders. In the world of management, renowned entrepreneurs and corporate change agents are often described as charismatic leaders. While popular accounts often ascribe a mythical quality to their charisma, research has shed significant light on the attributes that lead to the perceptions of a leader as charismatic. To understand charismatic leadership, it is important to realize that it is an attribution based on followers' perceptions and interpretations of their leader's behavior. There are a set of leader behaviors which distinguish charismatic from non‐charismatic leadership, and these are presented in a stage model of leading others. In addition, the behaviors associated with charismatic leadership are a constellation. The expression or presence of a single behavior associated with charismatic leadership is rarely sufficient in itself to engender the attribution of charisma. Instead a critical mass of behaviors must be present.