Charisma and Leadership in Organizations

"[This book] offers a comprehensive review of the new approaches to leadership research. . . . What becomes clear from this book is that the kind of leadership research that emerged in the 1980s is still in an infant stage and that there are a lot of issues that require further attention. By exploring the ambiguities, inconsistencies or matters that require clarification, Bryman succeeds in writing a valuable contribution to understanding new approaches to leadership. . . . This book is recommended reading for any scholar in the field of leadership." --Organization Studies "The sheer breadth of the text means that it is a book one will return to recurrently. . . . Bryman's text proves a useful way of sociologically connecting some more influential recent approaches in the management field with traditions of serious scholarship that have slightly longer legs than the latest business school fad. . . . The book offers many excellent examples and discussions of identities which might be considered to be charismatic, from religion, social movements, politics, and organizational life in business. . . . The book is a useful and timely contribution to the sociology of organizations and management. . . . It redefines a field of analysis in ways that are provocative and may be important. . . . The book is to be recommended." --Sociology "Charisma and Leadership in Organizations is an excellent book. The clarity of style and argument is exceptional, the mixture of theory and exemplification just right. Indeed, some of the cases drawn on to illuminate the arguments are fascinating as well as diverse --Gladstone, Hitler, and Tony Benn are to be found here as well as the Jehovah's Witnesses, theReverend Moon and the film directory Michael Cimino. . . . Perhaps the beauty of this text from the point of view of both author and publisher is that it could have very wide uses: not only the business undergraduate and MBA market but also sociologists and other social science students as well as, of course, their lecturers. Certainly, Bryman's book is the kind of text that could lead you unhesitatingly to constructing an option on leadership and charisma, or to dwelling at length upon these topics within a more general course. Within business studies and organisational behavior courses it is to be hoped that Charisma and Leadership comes to be seen as more than just another specialist text." --The Service Industries Journal "Alan Bryman . . . has extended our understanding of this subject through his latest book. . . . The use of vignettes located within several chapters illustrated and clarified many of Bryman's major points. Moreover, the integration and reference to leadership theories presented in the early chapters connected major ideas presented by either supporting or refuting them. I also found the brief summaries at the end of each chapter to be helpful. . . . Bryman clearly and simply removes the cloud that often surrounds charisma and leadership. He enunciates his presentation concisely and enables readers to easily assess the strengths and weaknesses of the New Leadership. From a theoretical perspective, I think it is time we accept such a paradigm. I recommend a copy of this book to those interested in expanding their knowledge about an exciting area within the leadership domain." --Business Horizons "The author provides a detailed review of the literature associated withthe concept of 'New Leadership, ' together with some ideas of his own on a fascinating subject." --Long Range Planning "The author has thoroughly researched the topic of charisma and its effect on leadership. . . . We desperately need the 'new leaders' he describes." --Henry F. Houser, Professor of Management, Auburn University at Montgomery How do executives like Lee Iacocca and Steve Jobs consistently reap excellent job performance, loyalty, and praise from employees? In recent years, researchers and practitioners concerned with the effective functioning of organizations have scrutinized this subject carefully. In Charisma and Leadership in Organizations, Alan Bryman explores the nature of these charismatic qualities by questioning the differences between management and leadership, the role of vision, and the nature of transformational leadership. By examining the vanguards of contemporary business and by drawing examples from the lives of holy men of late antiquity, Sufi saints, nineteenth century millenarian chiefs, and political figures like Nkrumah and Gladstone, Bryman brings a fresh perspective to the discussion of charismatic leadership. Most notably, he specifically and emphatically rejects the notion that charisma is a mystical quality that denotes personal magnetism. Finally, Bryman discusses the nature of charisma in relation to the 'New Leadership' school of thought. Intended for students, academics and professionals in management and organization studies as well as for sociologists and social science students, Charisma and Leadership in Organizations is a timely work that provides a much needed critical review of current leadership literature.