The study of charisma grows in importance when its effects are recognized, such as whether charismatic leaders can enhance productivity, lower accidents, and enhance job satisfaction. Much of the impact of charisma is based on the positive affect (emotion) the charismatic leader triggers among the group members. A group of researchers conducted a study of firefighters and their leaders to explore how the emotional component of charisma affects the mood and happiness of subordinates.

The firefighter study followed a preliminary laboratory study with college students designed to explore how the leader’s emotion might affect subordinate behavior. The field study involved 216 firefighters and 48 officers. Happiness, including positive affect and negative affect (unhappiness), was measured through a questionnaire. The results suggested that firefighters under the command of a charismatic officer were happier than those under the command of a noncharismatic officer.

Charismatic leaders who expressed positive emotion and thoughts tended to have an even stronger impact on the positive emotional state of firefighters. The positive affect of the officers also tended to reduce negative affect among the firefighters. A conclusion of the study going beyond firefighters is that one of the ways by which charismatic leaders emotionally impact subordinates is through enhancing their positive affect. Furthermore, happier leaders spread their positive mood to group members.