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Understanding The Charismatic Leader-Follower Relationship: Promises and Perils

Suffolk University

Dan Sankowsky

Suffolk University

The authors propose a framework for analyzing the dynamics of the leader-follower relationship in a mentoring context. To illustrate their framework, they use personal disclosure and personal case analysis. This framework addresses a power imbalance that can characterize the charismatic leader-follower relatonship, affecting motivational assessment, resource allocation and evaluation processes. The authors conclude with guidelines for follower self empowerment and leader preventive maintenanace to help avoid such power imbalances in the future.

Perhaps there needs to be a label announcing that "having a charismatic mentor may be hazardous to your mental health." While there is great appeal in working with someone of charisma, subtle forces at work within the relationship may undermine the follower's sense of self. In this article, we present a framework for analyzing the dynamics of the leader-follower relationship in a mentoring context. This framework addresses a power imbalance that can characterize the charismatic leader-follower relationship, and which affects motivational assessment, resource allocation, and evaluation processes. Following along a newly established path of scholarly disclosure (Neck, Godwin & Spence, 1996; Sankowsky, 1997; Gould, 1989), the authors will illustrate this framework using examples from their experiences with charismatic mentors.

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