How to Coach Yourself and Others Essential Knowledge For Coaching | Page 491
Many politicians use a charismatic style, as they need to gather a large
number of followers. If you want to increase your charisma, studying
videos of their speeches and the way they interact with others is a great
source of learning. Religious leaders, too, may well use charisma, as do
cult leaders.
Leading the team
Charismatic Leaders who are building a group, whether it is a political
party, a cult or a business team, will often focus strongly on making the
group very clear and distinct, separating it from other groups. They will
then build the image of the group, in particular in the minds of their
followers, as being far superior to all others.
The Charismatic Leader will typically attach themselves firmly to the
identify of the group, such that to join the group is to become one with
the leader. In doing so, they create an unchallengeable position for
themselves.
Alternative views
The description above is purely based on charisma and takes into
account varying moral positions. Other descriptions tend to assume a
more benevolent approach.
Conger & Kanungo (1998) describe five behavioral attributes of
Charismatic Leaders that indicate a more transformational viewpoint:
Vision and articulation;
Sensitivity to the environment;
Sensitivity to member needs;
Personal risk taking;
Performing unconventional behaviour.
Musser (1987) notes that charismatic leaders seek to instil both
commitment to ideological goals and also devotion to themselves. The
extent to which either of these two goals is dominant depends on the
underlying motivations and needs of the leader.
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