Development of a Five-Factor Model charisma compound and its relations to career outcomes

Abstract

Under the increasing influence of trait-perspectives on leadership, the current study introduces a personality-based measure of charisma. In order to obtain a Five-Factor Model (FFM) prototype for the charismatic leader, experts in the field of leadership and personality research were invited to participate in an expert panel. For each of the 30 NEO PI-R facets, experts (N=38) rated the prototypic case of a successful charismatic leader on a scale ranging between 1 (extremely low) and 9 (extremely high). Based on the FFM count technique (Miller, Bagby, Pilkonis, Reynolds, & Lynam, 2005), an easy-to-use count was developed in which facets that were rated as being prototypically high (≥7) or low (≤3) were summed together to calculate the FFM charisma score. To investigate the predictive validity of the FFM charisma count in terms of work-related outcomes, the 1994 Ghent alumni sample was used in which college alumni (N=262) were administered the NEO PI-R before entering the labor market and 15years later when their professional careers had unfolded. The results demonstrate that FFM charisma was positively related to extrinsic career outcomes 15years later, including income, number of subordinates, and managerial level. Moreover, FFM charisma was positively associated with adaptive performance, and with career roles that directly relate to charismatic leadership. It is concluded that the FFM charisma compound provides opportunities to map charismatic tendencies in a career-relevant way.