Since charisma is derived from the Christian term “gift of God,” it is common to view charisma as a special quality that possesses supernatural or extraordinary power.
Therefore, when we hear the term “charismatic leader,” we may think of a special leader who possesses unique qualities.
In leadership theory, there is a field of study called “charismatic leaders”.
In the old days, “charismatic legitimacy” was one of the three listed by M. Weber as the basis for proving the legitimacy of a leader’s dominance and authority. The other two, incidentally, are traditional legitimacy and legitimate legitimacy.
In today’s leadership theory, charisma is redefined as “the ability to become a charismatic leader by gaining the trust and recognition of followers,” as opposed to what is commonly referred to as charisma.
R. House asserts, “An extremely high level of self-belief and trust from subordinates enables a leader to lead his or her subordinates to their goals.”
The question then becomes, “What qualifies a leader to be recognized as charismatic?” The research published by J. Conger and R. Kanungo shows this.
Specific actions to be recognized as charismatic
- Establish a strategic vision
- Perceive changes in the environment
- Act unconventionally
- Accept risk
- Sensitivity to follower emotions
- Going beyond the status quo
Special emphasis is placed on vision as these are critical to being perceived as charismatic.
Charismatic leadership is the precursor theory to transformational leadership, which has dominated leadership research since the 1980s. Both theories emphasize “the leader’s vision”.
The shift in focus from leadership research, which used to focus on “how to increase productivity and efficiency,” to “organizational reform” and “changing the mindset of followers” as important factors required for leadership…is the reason behind this shift.
（The above English translation is for a reference purpose only and a re-translation of the Japanese into English. Accordingly, please refer to the original text as appropriate.）
コーチング情報局を運営する株式会社コーチビジネス研究所では、企業を対象としたコーチング研修、ビジネスパーソンを対象としたビジネスコーチング、個人の方を対象としたライフコーチングを提供しております。その他、コーチングを学びたい方のためのコーチングスクールの運営、経営者やビジネスリーダー向けにセミナーを開催しています。興味や関心がございましたら、お気軽にご相談・お問い合わせください。
This article was written in Japanese and converted into English using a translation tool. We hope you will forgive us for any inadequacies.
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