How to Live with a Charismatic Leader

Charismatic leaders hold such a salient position in nonprofit organizations, and so many charismatic leaders are cursed with negative attributes, that organizations need to be aware of these faults and know how to combat them. The weaknesses of charismatics can be divided into two types: 1. complementary weaknesses, and 2. corollary weaknesses. The first type of weakness requires a complement - someone in the organization who can balance the negative trait with its positive counterpart. Without such a complement, these defects may become intolerable. Be on the lookout for shortcomings such as disregard of people's needs, erratic and overstimulated behavior, and arrogance. Corollary weaknesses are the consequences of charisma. They would not exist if the charisma did not exist, and eliminating them might require abandoning positive charismatic benefits. Be aware of weaknesses such as too much power, subjective emotional appeal, and growth limitations. Guidelines are presented to help organizations compensate for their leaders' weaknesses.