Charismatic vs. Transformational Leadership Robert J. Bell II Columbia Southern University Feb 15, 2020 Charismatic vs. Transformational 1 The act of leading an organization or group of people plays a leading role in effecting change. However, it can also hinder change in an organization or society. Some of the leadership styles that have proved valuable over years include charismatic and transformational leadership styles. Introduction While charismatic and transformational leadership styles have been used by many leaders who are considered to be good leaders, there are significant differences between the two. The differences can be identified from how particular leaders employed charismatic and transformation leadership traits. These traits impact my leadership style daily. Depending on my target audience for the task at hand to be completed. 2 Charismatic leadership relies on the leader’s charm and attraction to create inspired and devoted followers towards the leader (Nikoloski, 2015) while transformational leadership establishes a collective vision to create change in individuals and social systems. Nelson Mandela is one of the well known charismatic leaders while Martin Luther King is well known for his transformational leadership traits. Introduction Through the leadership styles of Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, several differences between charismatic and transformational leadership can be identified. I prefer the Charismatic leadership style, because I believe that my subordinates are devoted followers of my organization. 3 Some of the leadership traits that Nelson Mandela displayed as a charismatic leader includes being self-confident, inspirational, articulate, revolutionary, and supportive (Nikoloski, 2015). Nelson Mandela expressed powerful personality that attracted people to him. Much of the attraction he received stemmed from the fact that he exuded confidence. Mandela as Charismatic Leader The confidence that Mandela exhibited can be seen at various instances of his life including when he expressed during trial that he was ready to live or die for democratic society in which all people live in harmony. To be a strong leader, one has to practice self-confidence. People who always second-guess themselves and feel shy around their coworkers may not attract others. 4 Articulation is an important aspect of leadership. Nelson Mandela would always communicate with confidence and charisma, which attracted the attention of his audience. He would always ensure that his statements are clear, articulate the words, and ensure that every statement has a purpose. Mandela as Charismatic Leader As part of effective communication, charismatic leaders are aware of their body language. This entails maintaining a good posture and eye contact with the people being addressed. Mandela was always comfortable speaking before large groups, as well as, one on one. Regardless of the situation, the leader wa.

1. Charismatic vs. Transformational Leadership
Robert J. Bell II
Columbia Southern University
Feb 15, 2020
Charismatic vs. Transformational
1
The act of leading an organization or group of people plays a
leading role in effecting change.
However, it can also hinder change in an organization or
society.
Some of the leadership styles that have proved valuable over
years include charismatic and transformational leadership
styles.
Introduction
While charismatic and transformational leadership styles have
been used by many leaders who are considered to be good
leaders, there are significant differences between the two. The
differences can be identified from how particular leaders
employed charismatic and transformation leadership traits.

2. These traits impact my leadership style daily. Depending on my
target audience for the task at hand to be completed.
2
Charismatic leadership relies on the leader’s charm and
attraction to create inspired and devoted followers towards the
leader (Nikoloski, 2015) while transformational leadership
establishes a collective vision to create change in individuals
and social systems.
Nelson Mandela is one of the well known charismatic leaders
while Martin Luther King is well known for his
transformational leadership traits.
Introduction
Through the leadership styles of Nelson Mandela and Martin
Luther King, several differences between charismatic and
transformational leadership can be identified. I prefer the
Charismatic leadership style, because I believe that my
subordinates are devoted followers of my organization.
3
Some of the leadership traits that Nelson Mandela displayed as
a charismatic leader includes being self-confident, inspirational,
articulate, revolutionary, and supportive (Nikoloski, 2015).
Nelson Mandela expressed powerful personality that attracted
people to him.
Much of the attraction he received stemmed from the fact that
he exuded confidence.
Mandela as Charismatic Leader

3. The confidence that Mandela exhibited can be seen at various
instances of his life including when he expressed during trial
that he was ready to live or die for democratic society in which
all people live in harmony. To be a strong leader, one has to
practice self-confidence. People who always second-guess
themselves and feel shy around their coworkers may not attract
others.
4
Articulation is an important aspect of leadership.
Nelson Mandela would always communicate with confidence
and charisma, which attracted the attention of his audience.
He would always ensure that his statements are clear, articulate
the words, and ensure that every statement has a purpose.
Mandela as Charismatic Leader
As part of effective communication, charismatic leaders are
aware of their body language. This entails maintaining a good
posture and eye contact with the people being addressed.
Mandela was always comfortable speaking before large groups,
as well as, one on one. Regardless of the situation, the leader
was always able to articulate his goals and vision.
5
As a supportive leader, Nelson Mandela did not focus on giving
orders and managing every aspect of people’s lives.
He worked with others and supported their efforts in ensuring
that the country achieved equality and democratic leadership
that focuses on the interest of all the people living in South
Africa.

4. Mandela as Charismatic Leader
In addition to working closely with others, when Mandela
became the president, he ensured that various government
agencies had freedom to perform their tasks and availed the
necessary resources for such tasks. Furthermore, he would work
through the activities with other freedom fighters who were his
followers. This would later ensure that the country achieved its
freedom as a product of people’s forces rather than as an
outcome of individual struggle.
6
Nelson Mandela was inspiring because of his clear vision for
the future of South Africa.
He believed that at one time, the country will put aside the
apartheid system and all South Africans will be free from
discrimination and various forms of sufferings.
Through this unerring positivity, the leader was able to inspire
others because he was always getting the bright side of the
problem that people were facing.
Mandela as Charismatic Leader
Besides, he was passionate about his activities and the activities
of ANC in seeking freedom and good governance for the
country.
7
Initially, as part of protests against racial discrimination,

5. Mandela favored the use of strikes, boycotts, and various non-
violent approaches to push for citizenship for all the people of
South Africa and equality for all citizens.
However, after experiencing the brutality of the white police,
especially in 1962 when the police officers killed peaceful black
protestors, he embraced some forms of violent resistance to
advance the change that the ANC fought for.
Mandela as Charismatic Leader
As a leader, Mandela exuded qualities of a revolutionary
person. He participated and advocated for a revolution in the
country. Mandela attracted large masses that helped bring the
dream to reality leading to the repealing of apartheid system
and ultimate freedom for all the people of South Africa.
8
While a charismatic leader can exert individual influence to
give positive results or the desired change for an organization
or group of people, there are several drawbacks in applying the
charismatic leadership style.
A major drawback is the overreliance on the leader.
The drawback arises from the fact that charismatic leaders
usually wins over the followers and may make the followers to
rely too much on the leader.
Drawbacks of a charismatic leader
The followers may start associating the success of the
organization or group solely with the leader. Consequently, the

6. followers may fail to see themselves as a valuable part of the
group or organization. Their role in the success of the group or
organization is undermined as the leader is always weighed
down with the responsibility of keeping the organization
running and also motivating the followers to perform.
9
The role played by Nelson Mandela in creating a democratic
society in South Africa cannot be underestimated.
While charismatic leadership was instrumental in the past
societies where the likes of Nelson Mandela lived, currently,
society is guided by established institutions and the rule of law
that may not rely heavily on the qualities of an individual or
leader.
Why Mandela and Biggest Take Away
The leadership that Mandela offered to ANC in the fight against
discrimination and the struggle for democracy has left
significant impact in South Africa and remained a source of
admiration in the country and beyond.
10
As a transformational leader, Martin Luther King exuded
inspirational motivation on how he articulated an appealing
vision that inspired and motivated his followers to act beyond
expectations.
For instance, in his speech “I have a dream” that has remained a
significant part of his legacy; the leader articulated his vision to
the followers in a way that inspired and motivated them to act
against racial discrimination.
Martin Luther King, Transformational Leader

7. Martin Luther King on the other hand displayed several traits of
a transformational leader. He managed to encourage his
followers to invest more efforts in their activism and to be
hopeful about the future.
11
The leader was also ready to listen to the needs and concerns of
his different followers and offer support as he empathized with
the situation in which each of his followers was facing.
This kind of individualized consideration enabled the leader to
identify the unique challenges that his followers had and also
identify people with different ideas and talents to work with in
the fight against racial discrimination (Towler, 2019).
Martin Luther King, Transformational
Leader
Both leaders were attempting to change the way their own
unique societal system viewed the changes and defied the need
for the changes.
12
By being a role model to the followers, Martin Luther King
exhibited idealized influence because the followers idealized his
high standards of ethical behavior (Towler, 2019).
He would always walk the talk rather than prescribe to the
followers what they are expected without engaging in the same
act of behavior.
Martin Luther King, Transformational Leader

8. On the other hand, Martin Luther King expressed intellectual
stimulation by supporting and collaborating with the followers
to come up with new ways of addressing the changes faced by
society at the time.
13
Transformational leader is valuable to an organization or
society because they strive to bring the desired change in their
organizations or society.
They help realize the change by identifying the unique
challenges that their followers face and work together with the
followers to achieve the common objective.
It can be learned from the assignment that transformational
leaders were vital for social change and are still needed to
effect organizational change in the current society or business
world.
Conclusion
It is a learned concept from this Unit, that Transformational and
Charismatic leadership styles can be both different and similar
depending on groups being lead versus being motivated, based
on the groups background and belief system. Also dependent on
the changes being compelled by each leader versus they need
for change.
14
Ladkin, D. (2006). The enchantment of the charismatic leader:

9. Charisma reconsidered as aesthetic encounter. Leadership, 2(2),
165-179.
Nikoloski, K. (2015). Charismatic leadership and power: Using
the power of charisma for better leadership in the enterprises.
Journal of Process Management, New Technologies, 3(2), 18-
26.
Towler, A. (2019). The qualities of transformational leaders and
what distinguishes them from transactional leaders. CQ Net.
References
15
UNIT 44 Management PowerPoint Presentation
Reference the PowerPoint Slides titled, UNIT II PowerPoint
Slides. Build off of these slides, using the same format, please.
In Unit II, you started your Personal Leadership Training Plan
and focused on attributes. In this unit, you will add knowledge
to your plan.
Within your presentation, respond to the following points:
· Describe the knowledge that you need to be a successful
leader within your field of study. In order to do this, you may
want to research job descriptions and organizations'
employment websites.
·
· What knowledge do you already possess that will benefit you
in your future career as a leader? What knowledge do you still

10. need, and how do you plan to obtain this knowledge?
·
· How will you leverage your knowledge to motivate and
empower your employees?
· What can you do to increase workplace morale?
·
Your completed PowerPoint presentation must be a minimum of
10 slides in length, not counting the title and reference slides.
Submit only the specific segment concerning knowledge.
Additionally, a minimum of two peer-reviewed or academic
resources must be used. Keep the text on the slides concise, and
use the notes section to fully explain your ideas. All sources
used must be cited and referenced according to APA style.