Leader who gains power and influence in a group because they are liked, admired, and respected are said to possess charismatic power. This charismatic power are stemming from an individual personality, physical strength, or other abilities that induce others to believe in and follow the person.
Charismatic leader always inspire awe and loyalty in their followers. These followers buy into vision of the leader and work with excitement, passion, enthusiasm toward goals set by leader.
When charismatic power is present, other powers like legitimate power, coercive power lose its significance because followers give charismatic leader the right to hold the reign of power and make the decision that define the vision and goals.
Many charismatic leaders can excite a whole group, organization or even a nation and propel it to a new height like former US president Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy. But charismatic power can have a dark side, when followers follow the leader blindly without basic cognitive ability because they think their leader knows what is best for the people. These kind of charismatic leaders are like Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein.
In fact, the moment charismatic leader has the most influence is the moment when the change is the most wanted by people. Because charismatic leaders give hopes, convinces their followers with strong tune and finally transform their followers become believers. Everyone becomes the evangelist of their leader’s vision to the others.
When charismatic power is abused by a leader, who has a mistaken or evil vision, no checks or balances exist to resist the leader directive, no matter how outrageous they may be. We all knew what had happened to Germany under Hitler and IRAQ under Saddam Hussein.
Some researchers have argued that charismatic leadership is an advantage only when a formal hierarchy of authority places some checks and balances on the power of this person. Thus, only when the power of a charismatic leader is balanced by the power of 3rd party like board of committees is the leader a force for good and someone who can stir people to work together toward common goals.
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张盛闻一年一度的乞讨时刻
7 years ago
2 comments:
I have another example.Anwar Ibrahim.I have to concede that he is a good leader.But sometimes his political tactics is really notorious(such as 916-encouraging MP to cross over) even though finally this tactics is copied by Bn.
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