Charisma is conferred on leaders by followers rather than held as a trait

Evidence

Weber’s conception was more on the latter than the former as he saw charisma as something conferred on leaders by their followers or ddisciplesT. Although some recent research (e.g., Burns, 1978) has regressed to a more trait-based approach, Weber’s original insight has been partly restored by Lord’s leadership categorization theory within which leadership is seen as bthe process of being perceived by others as a leaderQ (Lord & Maher, 1991, p. 11; see also Lord, Foti, & De Vader, 1984). — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 33

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s question about leaders embodying shared social identity — followership conferring leadership as the mechanism behind an ingroup prototype standing in for collective self. — connects to: Charismatic dictatorships inverted Weber’s claim that heroic leaders save passive masses. — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 14; Post-war leadership scholarship pathologized strong leaders and stripped agency from followers. — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 19; Leadership theory wrestles with celebrating influence without endorsing tyranny. — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 20 (+12 more)
• DEFINE: Clarifies Weber’s original charisma concept as follower-conferred, against the trait-based regression, and introduces leadership categorization theory as its restoration.

Broader Connections

• Leader popularity stems from leader-follower congruence while greatness stems from leader traits #qualifies (0.85) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1361
• Leader appeal depends on leader-follower trait matching while performance reflects enduring traits. #qualifies (0.85) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1366
• Charismatic authority erodes when a leader fails to benefit followers #expands (0.82) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1281
• Followers are swayed most by leaders who embody the group’s valued traits. #expands (0.80) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1762
• Leadership rests on reciprocal imitation, each following because others follow #expands (0.80) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 738
• A spellbinding leader’s identity analogies succeed only when followers co-develop them #exemplifies (0.80) — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 113
• Leaders are accepted only when embodying features shared with followers #expands (0.78) — Ernesto Laclau, On Populist Reason, 153
• Leadership derives from reciprocal imitation that frees the leader from individual obedience demands #expands (0.78)
• The Leader’s power becomes structural necessity rather than personal superiority #complicates (0.75)
• Leadership acts on followers through collective group norms, not just individual exchange #complicates (0.72) — Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, and Nick Hopkins, Social identity and the dynamics of…, 34