The Truth About Managing People, Third Edition

Truth 28. Charisma Is Not Always an Asset

While the media tends to love charismatic leaders, charisma is not always needed nor an asset.

If you have any doubts that there are negatives associated with charisma, let me just name three charismatic leaders: Adolph Hitler, Charles Manson, and Osama bin Laden. In addition, less well-known destructive charismatics include the “Queen of Mean” Leona Helmsley, Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling at the now defunct Enron, and Tyco’s former CEO Dennis Kozlowski (who is serving an 8-to-25-year sentence in a New York prison).

Research tells us that charismatic leadership is not always needed to achieve high levels of employee performance. There are situations that favor it. Charisma appears to be most appropriate when ...