Discussion: Positional vs. “Charismatic” Leadership

You may have noticed from time to time that there are people who have great influence on those around them even though they do not hold a particular office or position. For various reasons, they just have authority – and it doesn’t matter whether they have a position or not. A person who has power because of the role they are in has “formal” authority. The person who has authority just because of who they are has “informal” authority. The first person has positional authority. The second person has what we might call “charismatic” authority.

Navigating these two forms of leadership presents both challenges and opportunities. A weak leader in a position of authority may struggle to lead while individuals may lead inappropriately even though they have no formal power. The weak leader may overcompensate, using their formal power to bully. A charismatic leader can cause a church split or be a “church boss.”

Have you ever witnessed examples of individuals with formal power who lacked charismatic power? Have you ever witnessed charismatic individuals who wielded power they did not formally have? How did those situations play out? What recommendations would you make to the individuals involved if you hypothetically could speak into those situations?

Think of an example of these dynamics – ideally in a church – and make an initial post of at least 300 words. After making your initial post, please read through the responses of your classmates and make at least three follow-up comments on a different day than your original post. These responses should contribute meaningfully to the discussion, whether by asking insightful questions, providing additional examples or perspectives, or challenging ideas respectfully. Each follow-up comment should be at least 100 words. This discussion is worth 25 points.