Charisma Can Be Dangerous in a Leader

Charisma Can Be Dangerous in a Leader

Nearly all of the most destructive leaders in history--Stalin, Hitler, Mao, et al.--were highly charismatic leaders. On a PBS program more than thirty years ago, I watched the late management scholar, Peter Drucker, say (I wrote it down!): "Charismatic leadership is non-leadership because the charisma of the leader blinds followers to the absence of substance in the leader's message... until it's too late." That's not to say that all leaders with charisma are bad. They're not. But charisma is a distraction and can be enormously destructive when it trumps substance.

		Borje Vickberg, Sweden
	Freudian Remark English is not my mother tounge. I like the remark of Warren Miller. Maybe it takes an American to construct the phrase" it TRUMPS substance", when discussing charisma.

		Warren Miller, CPA, CFA Strategy Consultant, United States
	Many Thanks, Borje Truth be told, the pun was utterly unconscious. But your comment elicited a loud guffaw from me just now, and I do appreciate it!

		Benjamin Motlhabane Consultant, South Africa
	Charisma Has Its Place in Organisations Applied correctly and in appropriate doses, charisma does inspire people and keeps them motivated. There is a lot of ne...

		Graham Williams Management Consultant, South Africa
	What is the Motivation to Become More Charismatic? Warren has stated what shouldn't be ignored. Being charismatic 'in a positive way' doesn't change his wisdom. Let's go ...