Charismatic Bosses

September 24, 2008

Voters may look at a charismatic politician and consider him or her a good leader, but a University of Florida study shows that in the everyday workplace employees respond to strong but subtle leaders. UF researcher Amir Erez says bosses who give rousing speeches or try to excite their workers usually see that strategy backfire.

Erez: “The implication of it is if charismatic leaders can control themselves, be positive, smile, but control the over-the-top behavior, then it would be better in terms of their influence on their followers.”

Experts say companies and other organizations should look for leaders with restrained charisma; people who lead by example or by making the workplace a happier place.

Erez: “We have evidence that when people smile and laugh, other people tend to mimic those facial expressions and they become happier themselves.”

Results show when workers get aroused emotionally, their work performance actually suffers once their emotions come crashing back to earth.