A charismatic dimension of military leadership

Abstract

Abstract : Charisma periodically surfaces in discussions of leadership, especially combat leadership, but the term is frequently used imprecisely, even ambiguously. Charisma is a subtype of leadership involving personal qualities and interpersonal relationships between the leader and the follower that are not found in the general population of leaders. A common premise of most theories of Charisma is that followers. Not leaders, are the chief determinants of Charismatic existence. Charismatic leadership is worthy of study, but one should bear in mind that the value of a truly Charismatic leader to an organization is mixed. Charismatic combat leaders have at times caused difficulties for the governments they served. Recent studies have indicated that a new model, transformational leadership, in which leaders also articulate a vision of the future and empower subordinated is expedient and far preferable to pure Charismatic leadership.