Charismatic Leadership: The Elusive Factor in Organizational Effectiveness

by Jay A. Conger

In this new book, Jay A. Conger reveals how the charismatic leader's qualities of creativity, inspiration, unconventionality, vision, and risk-taking can help bring about radical change in organizations damaged by long periods of inertia - and shows why we need charismatic leadership now more than ever before. Drawing on findings from organizational behavior, sociology, social psychology, political science, and his own research - as well as on illustrations from the careers of Steve Jobs, Lee Iacocca, Mary Kay, John DeLorean, Ross Perot, and others - the author dispels the myths about charisma and identifies the specific practices that set charismatic leadership apart to help show how and why these individuals succeed where others may fail.

352 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1988

About the author

Jay Alden Conger