Why is Charismatic Leadership so important for the transition to Lean Manufacturing?
We all view the world through the lens of experience (our paradigm). This lens may distort reality to it fit our paradigm. Alternatively, the lens ignores or rejects information that does not fit the paradigm. This is not a personality defect, it is the way brains work– they are self-organizing pattern recognition systems. New information that does not fit an established pattern throws the brain into confusion– hence, the distortion or rejection. The power of charisma overcomes this. Emotional commitment to the Charismatic Leader allows followers to accept the leader’s paradigm in spite of the brain’s confusion. Gradually, the brain develops a new paradigm based on new evidence and experience.
