Charismatic Leadership in Organizations

Jay A. Conger · Rabindra N. Kanungo

Jul 1998 · SAGE Publications

About this ebook

Charismatic leaders have proven to be remarkable change agents, able to create or reinvent entire organizations. At the same time, these leaders provide us with lessons about the greatest dangers of leadership. For example, throughout history, certain charismatic leaders have demonstrated a shadow side as master manipulators and purveyors of evil. Charismatic Leadership in Organizations reflects the latest thinking on this seemingly elusive yet remarkable form of leadership. Written by two of the most important scholars on the subject, this volume not only integrates the growing body of research and theory on the subject, but also pushes the frontiers of our knowledge by introducing new theory and insights. It presents readers with a highly comprehensive model of the charismatic leadership process that is documented with extensive empirical research and richly illustrated with case examples of corporate leaders. The book also includes a questionnaire measure of charismatic leadership and suggests an agenda for future research in the field. Written in a highly accessible style, Charismatic Leadership in Organizations will be of interest to professionals, students, and scholars in management, public administration, psychology, political science, sociology, and religion.

About the author

Jay Conger is Professor and Chairman of the Leadership Institute at USC. Prior to joining USC, he taught on the faculties of Harvard, INSEAD, and McGill. He has published four books, including one with Sage on charismatic leadership that won a CHOICE award in 1998. In addition, he has published extensively in the major academic journals

Rabindra N Kanungo is Faculty Chair Professor, Faculty of Management, McGill University.