THE MOTIVATIONAL EFFECTS OF CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP - A SELF-CONCEPT BASED THEORY

The empirical literature on charismatic or transformational leadership demonstrates that such leadership has profound effects on followers. However, while several versions of charismatic leadership theory predi ct such effects, none of them explains the process by which these effe cts are achieved. In this paper we seek to advance leadership theory b y addressing this fundamental problem. We offer a self-concept based m otivational theory to explain the process by which charismatic leader behaviors cause profound transformational effects on followers. The th eory presents the argument that charismatic leadership has its effects by strongly engaging followers' self-concepts in the interest of the mission articulated by the leader. We derive from this theory testable propositions about (a) the behavior of charismatic leaders and their effects on followers, (b) the role of followers' values and orientatio ns in the charismatic relationship, and (c) some of the organizational conditions that favor the emergence and effectiveness of charismatic leaders.