Research Of Charismatic Leadership Of Ellen Degeneres
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to prove that Ellen DeGeneres has charismatic qualities that led her to making a difference in the world and earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Ellen DeGeneres was born on January 26, 1958. She is an American comedian, television host, producer, and LGBT activist. From 1994 to 1998, she starred in the sitcom Ellen and in 2003, she started her TV talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She has won countless Emmy awards, People's Choice Awards, and numerous other awards for her hard work and charitable efforts. In 2016, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes those people who have made 'an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors'. Ellen DeGeneres is not afraid to show who she is, regardless of judgement from others. She is always an optimistic person and leads by example. She promotes world peace, equality, and being true to who you are. The reason I chose Ellen DeGeneres is because she is such an influential person. She has overcome a lot of challenges and obstacles to get to where she is today. She was the first gay lead character on TV and has made an impact, not only to the LGBTQ community, but to the world. Ellen’s story is revolutionary, which is why she is admired by so many people. She is kind hearted, courageous, and selfless and these are all qualities of a charismatic leader.
Methodology
The purpose of this paper is to prove that Ellen DeGeneres has charismatic qualities that led her to earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I will be trying to find evidence that she is determined, courageous, and selfless. Ellen has done so much to give back to the community and I will be discussing her efforts throughout the years. She is successful through hard work and dedication and that’s what makes her an inspirational leader. Sources of information that I will be using are through Interviews, Talk Shows, Videos, News Articles, Academic Articles, Peer Reviewed Journals, Google Scholar, and the Guelph-Humber Library Services. Each source I’ve chosen talks about Ellen DeGeneres and her influential aura. Each source proves a different characteristic of hers and I believe I will be learning a lot more as I research Ellen in greater detail. When analyzing sources, I am trying to interpret the message with my own experiences, therefore each analyzation will be different. I will be analyzing the purpose of each source and the message the article is trying to deliver. Evaluating the information from my own point of view is important as there is no definite answer. I believe that Ellen DeGeneres is such an influential person and her charismatic leadership is what led her to earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Analysis and Discussion
To begin, charismatic leaders are very confident in what they stand for. Ellen DeGeneres was the first gay lead to come out on national television. Back in 1997, this was a huge controversy as homosexuality was rarely talked about. This made a large impact on society as we know today because of her strength and courage back then. It is said that, “Many people know intuitively that courage can carry you through deprivation, ridicule, and rejection and enable you to achieve something about which you care deeply. ”This holds true as Ellen openly stated that she endured bullying after coming out, over 20 years ago. She overcame depression and pushed through therapy and anti-depressants. Her coming out was more than just standing up for gay rights, but the fight for equality. She helps others in believing that it is okay to be who you are. Ellen stands up for individuality, uniqueness, and happiness. Her audience sees her thriving in success, and that is all due to being true to who she is. Ellen will still be herself, regardless of what others think and that is her most important message. Her genuine nature to be opened minded, giving, and optimistic is what makes people drawn to her. Ellen used her platform to bring light onto something she felt was important. She is a role model to people that seek the courage to do what they want to do, and just to live life happily. She does not pay attention to negativity and focuses on bettering herself, which is what she encourages others to do. Ellen says her motto is, “I do my best. You can be with me or not. ” The Presidential Medal of Freedom represents peace and love and through her courage to set an example to the world in a time when homosexuality was taboo, I believe her charismatic personality is one of the reasons why she earned it. Next, charismatic leaders focus on connecting with their audience on a deeper, more emotional level. Ellen DeGeneres campaigns for anti-bullying. As someone who has gone through bullying, Ellen understands the epidemic and sees the urgency to make a difference.
Luckily for Ellen, she saw the light at the end of the tunnel which made her into the person she is today. She uses her platform to inform others of important matters. On one episode of her talk show, she discusses the suicide of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi due to bullying. Ellen allowed the Clementi family to share their story, tell their truth, and encourage others to be better to each other. The sincerity in her words and the sympathy she feels for the Clementi family is evident through her tone and facial expressions. Ellen motivates people to being better versions of themselves. “Motivation refers to the forces either internal or external to a person that arouse enthusiasm and persistence to pursue a certain course of action. ” Ellen sheds light on issues people rarely talk about. The world should be a place where people do not have to hide how they really feel because they fear the judgement of others. Through the course of her actions, Ellen is setting a solid example to viewers all around the world. She encourages people to see past gender, race, and sexual orientation. There are far more important traits in people such as character, selflessness, and compassion and Ellen DeGeneres inspires millions of people everyday.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom represents safety and security to humanity. Ellen is determined in her goal to influence society and to make the world a more loving and accepting place; a place where people are not afraid to be themselves. This is another reason why Ellen DeGeneres earned her Presidential Medal of Freedom. Finally, charismatic leaders try to make the world a better place. Ellen DeGeneres selflessly helps families in need. Her compassion and drive to make a difference is what makes her so captivating. Ellen is always willing to lend a helping hand and never expects anything in return, besides love and kindness. In one of her talk shows, she helps a family that is going through a tough financial situation as they have four kids in a two-bedroom apartment. Ellen uses her platform to grant them a gift of five hundred thousand dollars to help them pay for their debts, kids college funds, and even a new home. She then grants them another five hundred thousand dollars to share the wealth and happiness however they would like. This proves her ability to constantly help people no matter who they are, where they are in the world, or what their situation is. According to Richard Daft, “The component of social awareness relates to one’s ability to understand others. Socially aware leaders practice empathy, which means being able to put yourself in other people’s shoes, sense their emotions, and understand their perspective. ” Ellen is always aware of social issues and is not scared to talk about topics that society normally would not address. Ellen has gone through her own hardships, and that is what makes her the person she is today. We are only human and we all have feelings. Ellen is a role model to others for doing tasks simply out of kindness. She gives people the opportunity to have new beginnings, the opportunity to get a second chance, and the opportunity to pay it forward. She does not let one’s set back define who they are as a person. This is what makes her such a wonderful humanitarian. The Presidential Medal of Freedom represents unity and the future endeavors of not only Americans, but the whole world. This is another reason why I believe Ellen deserved the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Conclusions
To conclude, Ellen DeGeneres has changed the lives of so many people. Her influential persona has reached the hearts of so many, and this is evident in her loyal support base of 4. 4 million viewers per episode. Ellen shows appreciation to her supporters through her acts of good deeds and kindness. Through her charitable work, generosity, and effective communication, Ellen DeGeneres has built trust in her foundation. She has shown her good heart and willingness to help those in need, which is a notable trait in a charismatic leader. Ellen once said, “I don’t think you have to have a talk show to be nice to people, to do what I’m doing. I just think kindness is something that we all should have. ” She is confident in herself and takes risks, even when she stands alone. She is a true visionary, and this is what makes her so powerful. Through her courage of being the first lead to ever come out as gay on national television, to her support for anti-bullying campaigns, and her noble acts of kindness to help families in need of support, her charismatic personality has given her many successes.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes those people who have made a difference in the world and promotes peace in humanity. Ellen DeGeneres encourages self-love and optimism. She leads by example by being true to herself, regardless of judgment from others. Ellen DeGeneres has overcome many obstacles in her lifetime and has made a powerful impact on society through her motivation and drive to make a change. Through Charismatic Leadership, Ellen DeGeneres is admired by so many people and that is what helped her earn the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
