Analysis Of Jim Jones
Analysis of Jim Jones and the People’s Church
Teamwork and Leadership
Michelle Steele
January 31, 2012
Professor Margaret Beaumaster
Analysis of Jim Jones and the People’s Church
1) Jim Jones digressed through various leadership styles as his time with People’s Church went forward. He elicited qualities of charismatic leadership and idealized influence in the beginning, followed by transactional leadership, and then autocratic leadership.
Charismatic – Jones was an incredible speaker. This was how he began People’ Church and acquire a following. In the movie, people said that they had never heard a man speak like this before. His services included song, which would light up everyone in the church, and give them all this exuberant feeling. People felt alive during his speeches. It was said he was an inspiring speaker, who spoke of inclusion of people and anti-government, which appealed to the hearts of everyone in the congregation. People heard his word and wanted to give everything to their Church, their community.
Idealized Influence – It was said in the movie that Jones felt discriminated against, and so he could relate to members of the black community. This aroused his followers to feel a powerful identification and strong emotion towards Jones. Everyone was welcome, regardless of their colour. Jones was breaking new ground in race integration.
Both of these styles allowed him to find a following. People who were interested in hearing him speak; people who liked what he stood for. At the beginning, yes I do agree that I might have even been caught up by the power with which he spoke. The message of integration and people being equal was good in theory, but where he took it later was a tragedy in my opinion. This leads us to his digression of leadership styles.
Transactional Leadership – When Jones finally had a following and realized that Indiana was far too racist for his community to thrive, he led his people to the “promised land” of
Teamwork and Leadership
Michelle Steele
January 31, 2012
Professor Margaret Beaumaster
Analysis of Jim Jones and the People’s Church
1) Jim Jones digressed through various leadership styles as his time with People’s Church went forward. He elicited qualities of charismatic leadership and idealized influence in the beginning, followed by transactional leadership, and then autocratic leadership.
Charismatic – Jones was an incredible speaker. This was how he began People’ Church and acquire a following. In the movie, people said that they had never heard a man speak like this before. His services included song, which would light up everyone in the church, and give them all this exuberant feeling. People felt alive during his speeches. It was said he was an inspiring speaker, who spoke of inclusion of people and anti-government, which appealed to the hearts of everyone in the congregation. People heard his word and wanted to give everything to their Church, their community.
Idealized Influence – It was said in the movie that Jones felt discriminated against, and so he could relate to members of the black community. This aroused his followers to feel a powerful identification and strong emotion towards Jones. Everyone was welcome, regardless of their colour. Jones was breaking new ground in race integration.
Both of these styles allowed him to find a following. People who were interested in hearing him speak; people who liked what he stood for. At the beginning, yes I do agree that I might have even been caught up by the power with which he spoke. The message of integration and people being equal was good in theory, but where he took it later was a tragedy in my opinion. This leads us to his digression of leadership styles.
Transactional Leadership – When Jones finally had a following and realized that Indiana was far too racist for his community to thrive, he led his people to the “promised land” of