Reading Questions for Yukl Chapter 9 – Charismatic & Transformational Leadership
Part 1 (pp. 260275)
1. In general, what do theories of charismatic and transformational leadership help us
understand?
these terms are used interchangeably by many people, but despite similarities they have
some distinctions,
2. What does “charisma” mean?
in greek it means “divinely inspired gift” such as the ability to perform miracles.
Weber uses the term to describe a form of influence based not on tradition or formal authority
but rather on follower perceptions that the leader is endowed with exceptional qualities.
3. What is Yukl’s take on how Weber used the term “charisma” and argued how it works in
1947?
Weber said that charisma occurs during a social crisis, when a leader emerges with a
radical vision and offers a solution to the crisis and attracts followers to their vision. See leader
as extraordinary
4. What is “transforming leadership” according to James MacGregor Burns? How does it
contrast with transactional leadership?
Transforming leadership appeals to the moral values of followers in an attempt to raise
their consciousness about ethical issues and to mobilize their energy and resources to reform
institutions. Transactional leadership motivates followers by appealing to their self
interest and exchanging benefits. May involve values, but they are values relevant to the
exchange process, such as honesty, fairness, responsibility, and reciprocity.
5. In what way do newer transformational leadership theories differ from Burns’
transforming leadership theory?
More concerned with attainment of pragmatic task objectives than with the moral
elevation of followers or social reform.
6. According to Conger & Kanungo’s Attribution Theory of Charismatic Leadership, which
three factors jointly determine follower attribution of charismatic qualities to a leader?
behavior, expertise, and aspects of the situation
7. According to Attribution Theory of Charismatic Leadership, which behaviors and traits
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are more likely to have leaders be seen as charismatic (i.e., have charisma attributed to
leaders)?
advocate a vision that is highly discrepant from the status quo, but still within the
latitude of acceptance by followers followers wont accept a vision that is too radical and
leaders who espouse these visions are incompetent or crazy. Act in unconventional ways
to achieve the vision. make selfsacrifices, take personal risks, and incur high costs to
achieve the vision they espouse. Leaders who appear confident about their proposals and
inspire people with emotional appeals are charismatic.
8. What did Conger find to be the primary influence process at play in Charismatic
Leadership? What does approval and rejection have to do with follower motivation in
this influence process?
The primary influence process is personal identification, which is influence derived
from a follower’s desire to please and imitate the leader. This approval is expressed through
praise and recognition of subordinate behavior and accomplishments, which builds self
confidence and a deeper sense of obligations to live up to the leaders expectations in the
future.
9. What else is influence of a charismatic leader due to according to Attribution Theory of
Charismatic Leadership? How does this influence process end up motivating followers?
The influence of a charismatic leader is also due to internalization of new values and
beliefs by followers. It is more important for followers to adopt the leader’s attitudes and beliefs
about desirable objectives and effective strategies than merely to imitate superficial
aspects of the leader’s behavior such as mannerisms, gestures, and speech patterns.
10. According Attribution Theory of Charismatic Leadership, which situational variable
seems to be important for attributions of charisma? How could a leader manipulate this
variable for her/his own benefit?
Contextual variables are especially important for charismatic leadership because
attributions of exceptional ability for a leader seem to be rare and may be highly dependent on
characteristics of the situation. Follower anxiety or disenchantmenteven without a
genuine crisis, a leader may be able to create dissatisfaction with current conditions and
simultaneously provide a vision of a more promising future.
11. How does Shamir, House, & Arthur’s (1993) SelfConcept Theory of Charismatic
Leadership view attribution in contrast to Attribution Theory of Charismatic Leadership?
Followers perceive that the leader’s beliefs are correct, they willingly obey the leader,
they feel affection toward the leader, they are emotionally involved in the mission of the
group, high performance goals, contribute to the success of missing.
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12. According to SelfConcept Theory of Charismatic Leadership, what are the leader traits
and behaviors that determine charismatic leadership (be thorough)? Make sure you are
able to compare and contrast these with the traits and behaviors deemed important in
Attribution Theory of Charismatic Leadership.
articulating an appealing vision, using strong forms of communication when articulating
the vision, taking personal risks and selfsacrifices to attain the vision, communicating
high expectations, expressing optimism and confidence in followers, modeling behaviors
consistent with vision, managing follower impressions of the leader, building
identification with the group or organization, and empowering followers.
13. Although SelfConcept Theory of Charismatic Leadership does recognize that personal
identification is an influence process that may occur with charismatic leadership, this
theory instead focuses on which other sources of influence to motivate followers? How
do these sources work?
Social identification occurs when people tke pride in being part of the social group or
organization and regard membership as one of their most important social identities.
Internalization occurs when attainment of task objectives becomes a way for followers to
express their values and social identities. Task motivation also depends on individual
self efficacy and collective efficacy. Individual selfefficacy is belief that one is competent
and capable of attaining difficult task objectives. Collective efficacy refers to the perception
of group members that they can accomplish exceptional feats by working together.
14. In which case is the motivational effect of charismatic leaders more likely to occur, and
what does it imply for the leader?
The motivational effects of charismatic leaders are more likely to occur when the
leader’s vision is congruent with existing follower values and identities. Charismatic
leaders must be able to understand the needs and values of followers. It must be possible
to define task roles in ideological terms that will appeal to followers.
15. What property of charismatic leadership does the example of Winston Churchill
illustrate?
Attribution of charisma to a leader may be temporary unless the vision continues to be
relevant after the immediate crisis is resolves. Example: Sharp decline in popularity of
Winston Churchill after World War II.
16. Briefly explain how some theorists explain charisma as a psychodynamic process. Which
influence process is this explanation highly based upon? According to this set of theories,
followers with which qualities are especially like to make attributions of charisma?
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These theorists attempt to explain the unusual and seemingly irrational influence of
some charismatic leaders who are idolized as a superhuman hero or worshiped as a spiritual
figure. The intense personal identification of followers with such leaders is explained in
terms of psychodynamic processes such as regression, transference, and projection.
Followers suffering from fear, guilt, or alienation may experience a feeling of euphoric
empowerment and transcendence by submerging their identity in that of a seemingly
superhuman leader.
17. Instead of focusing on the direct interaction of leader and followers, on what does
Meindl’s (1990) Social Contagion Theory focus in terms of influence process? Why?
What is social contagion? How does it occur? What does it have to do with selfconcept
and social identity?
The process used to explain how followers influence each other is social contagion,
which involves the spontaneous spread of emotional and behavioral reactions among a group of
people. It begins with a few insecure marginal members who deviate from social norms.
A heroic behavior syndrome is activated in these people by an emergent leader, which
allows followers to imitate their beliefs and the cycle begins to flow to others gathering people.
18. What is the typical sequence of events for social contagion, according to Meindl’s
speculation? What is the most likely influence process? Why does attribution of charisma
to the leader occur?
Attribution of charisma to the leader occurs as part of the attempt by followers to
understand and rationalize their new feelings and behavior.
19. What did Shamir’s (1995) research on close and distant charisma show? Who were the
subjects? How was data collected? How seriously should these results be taken and why?
Either way, it’s useful to consider that proximity of leader to followers may play a role in
charismatic leadership.
results support Shamir’s proposition that the amount of direct interaction between a
leader and followers affects attributions of charisma. Students were interviews and asked to
describe a charismatic leader with whom they had a direct relationship and one with
whom they did not have a direct relationship to identify leader traits, skills, behaviors, and
effects. More research is needed to clarify how distance affects attributions of charisma.
20. According to Yukl, who draws on other scholars’ research (including Weber’s), what are
the 3 approaches to routinizing charisma in an organization to avoid a succession crisis?
What is the drawback of each?
One approach is to transfer charisma to a designated successor through rites and
ceremonies. Seldom possible to find a successor for an extraordinary leader, and there
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are many reasons why a charismatic leader may be unwilling to identify a strong successor
early enough to ensure a smooth transition. Second approach is to create an administrative
structure that will continue to implement the leader’s vision with rationallegal authority.
Difficult to maintain the enthusiastic commitment of organization members when a
charismatic leader with whom they are identified is succeeded by bland bureaucrats who
emphasize obedience to formal rules. Embed it in the culture of the organization by
influencing followers to internalize it and empowering them to implement it.
21. What are the qualities of negative charismatics versus positive charismatics?
Negative charismatics have a personalized power orientation. Instill devotion to
themselves, ideological appeals to gain power, dominate followers and keep them weak,
self glorification. Positive charismatics have a socialized power orientation, instill devotion
to ideology more than devotion to themselves, emphasize internalization rather than
personal identification, self sacrifice, shared values.
22. According to House and Shamir (2005), which type of followers are drawn to which type
of charismatic leaders?
23. Be familiar with Table 92, negative consequences of charismatic leadership.
24. Positive charismatic leaders create organizations with what qualities? Even so, what are
potential downfalls of such leadership and orgs?
25. What are 4 implications for charismatic leadership in practice, and what do they entail?
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