Charismatic leadership

Abstract

Two famous “mittel Europeans”, much at the same time, defined the essential features of leadership in terms of charisma. The respective fathers of psychoanalysis and bureaucracy, Sigmund Freud and Max Weber, thought of great leaders as having unusual interpersonal appeal and the ability to rally others by the sheer force of their “magnetic” personality, vision, and eloquence. Through a combination of theatrical charm, believability, and conviction, such leaders inspire their followers to adopt a vision that is more than simple self-interest.