A Charismatic Leader: Malcolm X

The charismatic leader, who faced numerous challenges throughout his life, remained steadfast in his beliefs and applied situational leadership to adapt to changing situations. His leadership style was characterized by the ability to influence others through his thoughts and ideas. Scholars agree that a respectable leader has many attributes that make them respected among their followers. A key aspect of this leadership is the ability to give followers opportunities to share their ideas, allowing for new perspectives and exploration. Additionally, having moral values makes a leader a role model for their followers.

LEADERSHIP

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Transformational Leadership and Charisma to Malcolm X............................................................................................3
TASK 1...........................................................................................................................................................................3
Transformational leadership......................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2...........................................................................................................................................................................5
Charisma....................................................................................................................................................................5
Theory and practice...................................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................................13

Transformational Leadership and Charisma to Malcolm X
TASK 1
Transformational leadership
The Transformational leadership (TL) refers to a style where both leader and his/ her follower use to work
in coordination and leader tries to identify various requisite changes so that followers can have get inspiration for
adopting changes. In this regard, Malcolm X can be represented as one of the best leaders who started a revolution
against government for black people. Malcolm had many qualities as per the transformational leadership like
activism, good orator and his inspirational thoughts due to which he influenced a large number of people all across
the world. A leader has a number of qualities and attributes due to which he/ she becomes able to inspire people and
all of them use to follow him/ her. As per Schein, (2010), a leader motivates their followers for all kinds of work
because of which they become able to achieve their goals. The TL is very different from transactional leadership
where in later style, leader use to reward its followers on achieving any goal. The people were very influenced by
Malcolm as he use to speak straight forward with all his followers. He was always very much clear in his mind
about his ideas which he always use to say while having conversation with his followers.
Motivation Selznick, (2011) said that the transformational leaders are self motivated persons
which acts as a driving force for them and they take steps as per that motivation. This
attribute worked well in case of Malcolm as well where he use to think and take
action as per his will and by heart.
Values According to Wheatley, (2011) the genuine leadership focuses towards ideas and
statements that are applied by a leader on his followers. These ideas incepts from a
leader himself and acts as a driving force in him. This idea is then spread by leader
among followers to inspire them and achieve their support. Malcolm also had same
thing where he used to present various ideas and thoughts with a clear meaning and
understandable by his followers.
Morality Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee, (2013) states that leaders should be able to influence
their followers through strong beliefs and morality. Leader should be internally
motivated and determined to achieve any goal. Due to the strong beliefs and ideas
which were based on moral grounds, Malcolm became the leader of prison as well
where he lead his debating team.
Trust Besides this, in the views of Zhang and Bartol, (2010), it is also necessary for a leader
to build trust among followers. A trustworthy relation of a leader with their followers
always takes them to a height of success with great number of followers supporting
his ideas. For this, a leader should be a good listener as well.
Emotional Spillane, (2012) asserts that emotional attitude of a leader leads to success as it gives
followers feeling that leader understands their problem in better way. Thus, they
become able to try and learn new things which also help in exploring wide

perspectives of various things.

According to different variables or characteristics which Malcolm possessed were genuine leadership,
challenging attitude, providing leadership through strong beliefs, self confidence giving respect and valuing
relationships. With all these attributes, Malcolm was successful in achieving the support of large number of
followers. It is well said by many scholars that if anyone use to heard him while speaking and sharing his ideas, an
individual felt that he was never before there. As per this trait, Malcolm had an attitude according to which he
always accepted changes. He transformed himself at various stages of life by easily adjusting alterations and
accepting them as a challenge. This made him able to have broader outlook of environment where he was struggling
for black people. He believed that a person can learn most of the things by listening rather than speaking. He
strongly favoured the learning process and loved to knowledge and truth while he use to hate ignorance.
TASK 2
Charisma
Critcal Evaluation
of Idealised
Influence
Charisma Kotter, (1995) James, Berry
(1987)
Rendell,
Mann (2012)
Bryson
(2011)
Senge
(2006)
Collins, Porras
(1994) Bruce, Bass (2002)
vision and mission Sets future
picture to make
directions for
creating mission.
Ideal and unique
image of future
Future picture
which is able
to complete
mission.
Succint
description
where one
wants to be
Describes
how
purposes
will be
accomplishe
d
Core ideals to
create vision
Stating objective in
memorable way
role-model Make strategies
through
expertise to to
achieve
objectives.
Honest and
emotional
personality
makes a good
leader
Present
inspiring role
which does
not get
criticism
Risk taker to
meet challenges
change Changes are
necessary to
make differences
in way of
working.
Models way to
challenge
processes and
develop new
processes.
Change
should be
based on
internal and
external level.
Innovation
creation to
bring social
changes
Create interests and
induce changes
moral Moral behaviour
to set inspiration
for others.
Systematic
value creation
Develop
confidence
and personal
values
Principle of
conduct
Developing self
confidence and awareness
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The personality and charisma of a leader is also the most significant characteristic which helps them in
becoming a successful leader. Malcolm's father was murdered due to which his mother was emotionally broken
down. Many of such childhood incidents transformed him a lot as he learned different things from each incidents.
This made him learned person with an attractive charisma. He became a powerful and influencing speaker because
of which people use to be easily convinced by his thoughts and this gradually turned many persons to be his
followers. Neck and Manz, (2010) has articulated that the values of a leader attracts his followers and they become
able to gain their respect. Another important attribute is decision making ability of a leader. It is apparent that a
leader has to face many situations where he has to take many tough decisions which can be done through clear
vision, goals and objectives. Malcolm had a very clear vision from the beginning where he always tried to bring
changes in the thinking level of society towards black people. He always tried to provide equal rights to black
citizens as of white citizens. This also reflects the proactive attitude of leaders where they use to take steps that does
not depend on other's move while they use to take initiatives. This attitude also helps in minimising the risks and
shows foresightedness of a leader (Avolio and Yammarino, 2013). In all these scenario, it is evident that charisma of
Malcolm was the best along with a good speaking skills due to which he is identified as a very successful leader all
over the world. Moreover, a transformational leader has characteristics of visionary attitude by which leader sets a
particular vision and makes able to all its followers to pursue that vision.
Charisma refers to a magnetism of a person which makes him/ her an influencing person among various
persons. In Malcolm, this charismatic trait was mainly in the form of a good speaker with strong thoughts and
beliefs due to which many black people supported him in revolution against government for providing equal rights
to them. The charismatic influence of leaders make all followers to have an emotional attachment with leader
because of which they become fully motivated and loyal towards their belief. Gaines, (2012) says that, a leader's
speaking ability is always the biggest characteristic which can set him/ her as a role model among followers. This
creates a self confidence in leader and in turn, he also use to give a better confidence to his followers. These
characteristics of good speaking and having self confidence can be developed through more learning. A good leader
should always be a good learner and try to make each and every efforts to explore new ideas towards various
problems. According to Walumbwa and et.al., (2010) the ability of a leader to influence followers through ideas and
thoughts is very significant characteristic where people use to follow the morals and values of a leader. Here, it is
significant to note that as per Gutiérrez, Hilborn and Defeo, (2011) after gaining the position and authority, a person
may develop ego in himself. This increases possibilities that leader can put his personal goals over group goals. A
transformational leader should be able to put check on such ego and have an unshaken thoughts that can make
people influenced. This powerful way of communicating makes a leader to be confident. Malcolm transformed into
a powerful leader due to his ability to convince people in easier way. This skill in Malcolm was the result of five
development stages where he lead different group of people. At first stage, due to his good academic performances,
he was elected as a school leader. At later stage, he also acted as a street leader where he became famous all over.
Here, everyone noticed his speaking skills and increased number of followers which was due to his ability of
influencing people (Iyengar, Van den Bulte and Valente, 2011). Further, he also became prison leader and became
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head of debating team. Because of this, he at further stages also turned into national spokesperson of Nation of
Islam. Here, he learned a lot about cultural and political aspects and helped in building the nation's cultural
developments. At the last stage, he founded organisation of Afro-American unity. All these shows his
transformation as a leader at various stages from a school leader to founder of a big organisation. These stages acted
as a base for Malcolm's transformation to a leader. The communication power of Malcolm played a vital role in his
life where it was remarked by Derue and et.al., (2011), that due to his charismatic attitude many followers came with
him in revolution. He became famous as a role model among various people where he was famous for his ideas and
thoughts. Doz and Kosonen, (2010) believes that setting a vision and mission is necessary as it gives inspiration to
work. This visionary attitude among leaders is necessary so that they can remain ready to work for particular vision
and mission. This vision should be communicated in well manner among followers as well so that they can be made
dedicated towards achievement of such vision and mission. When a leader is perceived as a role model by followers,
they develop a trust and respect for leaders. Schein, (2010) asserts that it involves a great role played by leader
where he has to be dedicated with achievement of goals. Here, he has to reflect the risk taking capacity as well so
that followers can take him as an ideal and learn from him. Besides this, Wheatley, (2011) suggests that a leader has
to be able to communicate his ideas about changes taking place in surroundings. Changes may occur in any form
that can be either helpful or not. But a leader should always hope for positive changes and able to transform any
adverse alterations into positive ones. Further, it is also necessary that he can induce such attitude among his
followers as well so that they can be made ready for all kinds of situations. This can be done by making them
innovative and adaptive.
Role modelling and Change
Theory
As per the discussed attributes of a leader, it is necessary to understand various approaches and theories
that are related with leadership. It is evident that there are various theories of leadership according to which a leader
adopts a particular style. There are a number of styles like autocratic, situational, democratic, participative,
transformational and transactional leadership styles. Different styles of leadership suggest various perspectives
according to which a leader leads the group (Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee, 2013). As per the autocratic leadership
approach, leader use to act as per his own decisions and does not consider viewpoints of followers. This kind of
style is generally suitable in organisational context where the relation between leader and followers is of employer
and employee. While according to democratic leadership, the leader allows its followers to give their views and
listens them properly. This type of leadership is more successful as it puts followers in a better position. Thereby, it
allows them to have and open communication with leader. Besides this, transformational leadership refers to the
coordinated work of leaders and followers where leaders try to apply changes as per the need of situation. Moreover,
transactional leadership reflects mutual give and take relationship as leader use to reward followers on achieving a
pre determined goal.
Practice
In practice, above mentioned theories have a significant role to play as per various conditions (Neck, and
Manz, 2010). Malcolm adopted transformational leadership along with situational leadership style. This practice is
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evident in the form of his attitude towards people where he always insisted upon learning according to which he use
to allow his followers to give their viewpoints. This helped in making followers to feel that they are given freedom
of thinking. Besides this, the situational leadership refers that a leader have to take various decision as per situations
(Gaines, 2012). The environment does not remain stable and there always remains possibility of occurring changes.
This needs that a leader should have ability to adopt such changes and act accordingly. In such conditions, there are
times when a leader has to make complex decisions as well. So sticking to a particular style cannot be the solution.
Therefore, it is necessary to have a wider approach that can allow leader to have flexibility in their attitude.
Situational leadership refers to style which is adopted by a leader as per the prevailing situations in surroundings.
Malcolm had a good decision making power and an inspiring life which can be perceived as a role model for any
follower. He also had a very positive attitude where he hoped for positive in all situations. Further, he always
maintained his morality as he was a punctual man. This is evident from his various works where he always used to
finish decided tasks on time.
Fit between theory and practice
It is significant to note that Malcolm had a large family where his father was a baptist minister and mother
a home-maker with eight children in family. His childhood days were not good as his father was murdered which
lead his mother to emotional breakdown. Due to this, his entire family was split and children were sent to
orphanages. During these days, he was once caught for burglary and sent to jail for ten years. But due to his services,
he was given parole after seven years after which he cam into contact of Nation of Islam (NOI). Due to his teachings
and various speeches, he attracted a large number of crowd which turned into his followers. Due to many disturbing
reasons, after some years of service under NOI, he parted from it and visited Mecca. There he came in contact with a
various beliefs and thoughts of different cultures and it altered his thoughts and beliefs as well (Redmond, 2012).
Because of this, he lead his thoughts among people where he tried to spread his beliefs related to different races.
Because of this, relations between NOI and Malcolm became more bitter and many attempts were made to kill him.
This reflects his whole journey of life as a role model for followers where he passed by various misfortunes since
childhood. Yet he managed to become a successful leader with a large number of followers. Malcolm was a leader
who always use to be ready for changes. By his teachings and ideas, he use to influence people to adopt changes and
keep a positive attitude. He also maintained ethics in his leadership style and always shown his respect and love for
cultural and historic events. Further, it was also evident that he was a very honest leader. He was well known for
keeping his words as per the promises made by him. As per above discussed section, ego should not come ion the
way of a leader it can be seen here (Gutiérrez, Hilborn and Defeo, 2011). Because of situational and
transformational leadership, he always gave opportunities to his followers to share their thoughts and at that time he
acted as a learner so that he can learn something by knowing their thoughts. This reflects that he does not have any
kind of ego in himself. As per the situations, he also adopted laissez faire system of leadership. As per this
approach, he did not use to provide his leadership all the time to his followers. He allowed them to freely work and
make their decisions as per situations (Derue and et.al., 2011). This helped them to be self motivated and to have
freedom in their working. Malcolm just used to inspire people by narrating his past history where he experienced
different adverse situations. These narrations helped his followers to learn various lessons which they use to apply in
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solving various kinds of problems. This narrative attitude of Malcolm helped him to make a large number of
followers as they find him to be on same position which inspired them to do struggle in life. Thus, hereby it is
apparent that his charismatic leadership proved to be inspiring for a large number of people and played a more
important role than any kind of authoritative leadership style. Moreover, it is also significant to mention that he
possessed great bravery as well because he knew that because of his ideas and thoughts he is target to be
assassinated by his opponents (Selznick, 2011). Still he was determined and continued to with his work. This
reflects his bravery and risk taking attitude as well.
On summarising the above leadership theories and discussions, it can be said that transformational
leadership involves a process that puts a leader and followers at same position of transformation. In this style, both
work to transform themselves by bringing changes in themselves as per the need of situations. Besides this, it is also
evident that a leader has a number of traits that make him a leader but it is necessary that a leader must have a
charisma that can attract people to follow him (Spillane, 2012). Malcolm was also a person with such kind of
charismatic personality where his thoughts and ideas were enough to influence people. He passed with many
challenges throughout his life yet he was determined and unshaken from his beliefs. Further, as per his attitude and
belief, it is evident that situational leadership was applied where he use to make changes as per the situations.
Various scholars also articulated that a leader has many attributes that makes him respectable among his followers.
It is very necessary to give his followers the opportunity to share their ideas so that leader can also have something
new to explore. Moreover, it is necessary that a leader has moral values so that he can be perceived as a role model
among his followers.
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