What or who comes to mind when the word charisma is spoken? Most likely, it is an individual with strong, admirable qualities that people are willing to follow. Certain actors, politicians, and religious leaders are known for their ability to mesmerize and sway an audience. These visionary thinkers can communicate a vision compellingly and engagingly. These charismatic leaders challenge others to step outside their comfort zone and expand their idea of what is possible.
In the workplace, charismatic leadership is helpful in motivating teams to attain greater levels of achievement than a top-down leadership approach (such as autocratic or bureaucratic styles). A charismatic leader’s firm grasp of communication styles provides the ability to share the team’s vision and goals in a way that draws everyone into the conversation and process. This leadership style brings a feeling of empowerment to the team members and provides for growth and innovation.
As with the other styles of leadership, some characteristics are associated with the charismatic leadership style:
Goal Setter
Creates and uses goals to connect and inspire
Brings everyone to the table from all levels of the organization
Risk Taker
Accepts and embraces bold ideas
Encourages and expects “out of the box” ideas and concepts
Empathetic
Provides recognition and resources to meet the needs of the team
Displays a genuine interest in other’s hopes, dreams, and goals
Cool under pressure
Handles high-pressure situations with grace
Self-manages emotions and abilities while identifying the emotions of others
Pivots the direction based on situational observations
Great storyteller
Transitions goals into transformational events
Utilizes powerful and vivid imagery to convey information
Creates an emotional impact on the work in progress
Problem-solver
Relies on established trust and authenticity
Empowers the team to assist in overcoming any surfaced adversity or issue
A Useful Tool
Some argue that charisma is genetic, while others believe anything can be achieved with practice. The good news is that both are correct. With a bit of practice, you can cultivate the skills used by highly recognizable charismatic leaders such as Jack Welch (GE), Jacinda Ardern (Prime Minister of New Zealand), Ellen Degeneres, and former President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.
Charisma is less about mimicking someone’s behavior and more about being authentic to yourself while paying attention to the others in your team. This means utilizing good listening skills when interacting with others. When speaking, focus on the individual or audience. Maintain eye contact and pay close attention to how your message is being received. Noticing the other person’s body language will provide a wealth of information. When these body clues show signs of disinterest, drifting, or uncertainty, find a way to pivot or shift the conversation. Focusing on these areas will help develop charismatic skills and achieve greater success.
Take Action
What elements of a charismatic leadership style can you use in your current role, and what impact do you see it having on your team’s performance? What has been your experience working with or being a charismatic leader? As always, we invite you to jump in and be a part of the conversation and movement to impact how leaders lead positively! To learn more about how we can create a learning experience for your organization, email us at ala@deneenattard.com.
Learning on a Dime is a collaboration between DeNeen K. Attard and Jeni McIntosh-Elkins.
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