Final answer:
The quality that enables an individual to inspire and attract others through their exceptional personal attributes is known as charisma. Charismatic authority is based on individual qualities, differing from other types where authority is enshrined in laws or institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Someone with an outstanding gift or exceptional quality that draws others to them and their message is said to possess charisma. Charisma is often characterized by a person's ability to inspire and attract followers due to unique and compelling personal qualities. Charismatic leaders can incite people to undertake extraordinary actions, often emerging during times of crisis to propose radical solutions and provide a vision for a new order or system.
In contrast to other forms of authority, such as rational-legal authority that is based on laws and regulations, or patrimonialism where power is enforced by military and administrative factions, charismatic authority is rooted in the leader's individual qualities and is thus considered one of the most powerful sources of influence and loyalty.
Historical examples of charismatic leaders include diverse figures such as Hitler, Napoleon, and Jesus Christ, while on the female side, leaders like Joan of Arc and Mother Teresa demonstrate that charisma can be found across genders, albeit less frequently among women due to historical underrepresentation in dynamic leadership roles.