Evaluating potential transformational leaders: weighing charisma vs. credibility

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore credibility, as an alternative to charisma, as an important attribute of transformational and authentic leadership. 10;

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper. From leadership literature, we discuss transformational leadership, authentic leadership, charisma, and credibility. The literature on leadership and credibility is limited, yet we provide relevant examples.

Findings

The authors conclude that credibility, rather than charisma, provides a more accessible and ethical framework to capture the essence of transformational and authentic leadership. Yet, charisma may enhance leadership. Practical recommendations are provided related to charisma and credibility.

Practical implications

Practical recommendations are given to help leaders think about charisma differently and consider credibility as a core attribute to embrace in leading others. 10; 10;

Originality/value

The literature on credibility and leadership is limited, but this topic is frequently discussed in business, politics, religion, media, etc.

Citation

Raffo, D. and Williams, R. (2018), "Evaluating potential transformational leaders: weighing charisma vs. credibility", Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 46 No. 6, pp. 28-34. https://doi.org/10.1108/SL-12-2017-0130