The Effect of Charismatic Leadership on the Relationship between Work Stressors and Performance

We develop a theoretical model that describes how charismatic leaders influence the relationship between work stressors and job performance. Specifically, we propose a mediated moderation model in which charismatic leadership influences how stressors are appraised, and also how these stressor appraisals impact performance. Our theorizing is supported in a study of U.S. Marines, albeit results depend somewhat on the nature of the stressor. Challenge stressors were more positively associated with performance of Marines whose leaders were judged to have high charisma. These Marines appraised the stressors as being more challenging, and they were more likely to respond to this appraisal with higher performance. Although charismatic leadership did not influence the relationship between the level of hindrance stressors and the appraisal of those stressors, charismatic leadership completely negated the strong negative effect these appraisals had on performance.