Charismatic Leadership Style

The Charismatic Leadership Style was one of three leadership styles described by Max Weber (1947) along with bureaucratic leadership and traditional leadership styles.    The charismatic leadership style is based on a form of heroism or extreme of character - almost of divine origin.

The characteristics of the charismatic style include:

• Leaders are viewed as having supernatural powers and abilities, the leader is viewed as a hero by followers
• Leaders are followed because of personal trust and the charisma the leader exhibits
• Followers are promoted based on personal charisma they exhibit
• There are no formal offices of authority, power is gained through social skills

Weber was the first to distinguish between transactional leaders such as bureaucratic leaders and transformational leaders such as charismatic leaders.  Weber also believed that most leaders exhibited characteristics of all three styles.

Other forms of this term include - charismatic leader, charismatic leadership