Schwarzenegger the Socialized Charismatic Leader and the Green Movement

Abstract

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a socialized charismatic leader who paints a strong vision for the future of California and has become a model leader for the 21st century. Quite simply he has been a leader in every field he has entered. Schwarzenegger displays several of the competencies required for leadership. Schwarzenegger’s most important foundation competency is the change competency.

Governor Schwarzenegger recognized global warming was real and something needed to be done. Schwarzenegger realized by being the first state to embrace a green economy and becoming the leader in green technologies, it will have an immediate impact on the environment. But more important to a fiscal conservative such as Schwarzenegger, it will build a tax and revenue base that supports growth and a stronger state economy.

Schwarzenegger has coupled the need for change with his powerful charisma. This created a vision for change and united Californians behind him. “Come on we’re from California. We have always been number one. Let’s show the rest of the world that we can come up with the best ideas. Let’s kick some butt here.” Governor Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger the socialized charismatic leader and the green movement

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a socialized charismatic leader who paints a strong vision for the future of California and has become a model leader for the 21st century. Quite simply he has been a leader in every field he has entered. Schwarzenegger displays several of the competencies required for leadership. Schwarzenegger’s most important foundation competency is the change competency.

Governor Schwarzenegger recognized global warming was real and something needed to be done. Schwarzenegger realized by being the first state to embrace a green economy and becoming the leader in green technologies, it will have an immediate impact on the environment. But more important to a fiscal conservative such as Schwarzenegger, it will build a tax and revenue base that supports growth and a stronger state economy.

Schwarzenegger has coupled the need for change with his powerful charisma. This created a vision for change and united Californians behind him. “Come on we’re from California. We have always been number one. Let’s show the rest of the world that we can come up with the best ideas. Let’s kick some butt here.” Governor Schwarzenegger. This paper will discuss Schwarzenegger’s foundation com of change and how he developed that competency. The paper then discusses his charismatic leadership, and his ability to combat resistance to change.

Schwarzenegger has been a leader in the world of body building. Schwarzenegger used his charismatic personality to push body building from the status of a “cult sport” with a small following, to a world wide phenomenon. In fact the success of fitness magazines displayed all over news stands today owe their success in large part to the charisma of Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger has been a leader in business and the film industry by making mega hits and also not so mega hits. However, his charisma and likeability was always self evident through the characters he brought to life. It was only natural that Schwarzenegger turned his sites to politics. Pundits questioned what kind of leader would Schwarzenegger be? It’s true he has the charisma to lead, but charisma with out competency is all for naught, charisma with out vision is for naught.

Schwarzenegger’s policy to move California towards green technology clearly illustrates that he posses the change competency. Schwarzenegger is the first Governor to enact a green initiative on such a large scale. The text defines the change competency as “involving the ability to recognize and implement needed change or adaptations or entirely new transformations in people, tasks, strategies and structures” (Hellriegel & Slocum 2007).

To move California to a green economy seems like a daunting task, especially for a relatively in experienced politician. Schwarzenegger had to first change peoples mind about becoming green. Schwarzenegger had a blue print. Joe Weider provided that blue print. As a young body builder, Schwarzenegger was mentored by body building marketing guru Joe Weider. Weider taught Schwarzenegger valuable lessons on how to change public opinion on body building and make fitness mainstream.

Weider used Schwarzenegger to make body building “sexy” (Montana 2008). To do this he had to change the image of the bodybuilder (much like Schwarzenegger is attempting to change the image of the environmentalist). The current image of the body builder was one of vanity, narcissism, all brawn and no brain.