Some people enter a room and all the heads turn. When they begin to speak, people are on the edges of their seats. They instantly gain respect and even trust. I think of Presidents Kennedy and Reagan, Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, and Joe Maddon, skipper of the Chicago Cubs, to name a few. In a word, they have charisma, one of the most desirable qualities in the world. Charismatic leaders are revolutionary and rarely, if ever, found defending the status quo. In contrast, charismatic leaders are almost always about revolution, innovation or some kind of significant change.
So, what is charisma? It is hard to define. The term charisma has two senses: compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, a divinely conferred power or talent. As regards sense 1, scholars in political science, psychology, and management use the term "charisma" to describe a particular type of leader having "symbolic leader influence rooted in emotional and ideological foundations". It can be many things then, such as likeability (on steroids). Clearly, if you want to influence people, they must like and respect you.
Let's take a deeper look in defining CHARISMA and focus on the the letters of the word itself.
Confidence. Charismatic people believe in themselves and share that confidence with others. Confidence does not come naturally to most people. Even the most successful people struggle with it. Confidence can be developed, like any skill or trait, if you are willing to honestly recognize the gaps and then commit to do the self improvement work. Get a coach to help you through some of this. Honestly, we all want to follow leaders who believe that they and the team can do anything and have the courage to tackle any obstacle on what can be achieved without compromising on a collective morale compass.
Happiness. The happiest people I know are not the most attractive, richest or the best at what they do. This is a mindset that again can be developed. The happiest people are those who discover that what they should be doing and what they are doing are the same things. True happiness lies in satisfaction, which is an important element of charisma.
Authentic. Authenticity is a reflection of how truthful and real we are in our relationships with others, and in understanding ourselves. Being authentic means you will be honest, vulnerable, real, constantly demonstrating your values and standards and maybe a little intimate when sharing who you are as a person, or how you would like others to be when in relationship with you. At a deep level, most people want to be in authentic relationships. Without authenticity, relationships will be slow to develop, if at all. And without authentic relationships, trust does not grow. Without trust, leaders will not have influence, and without influence, they will not build value throughout their organizations.
Respect. A charismatic leader is one who offers respect in return. It is part of their DNA and emotional intelligence development. You will never find a charismatic leader in a bully or narcissist. No one likes to be pushed around and demeaned. One of the most important skills to master is learning how to respectfully disagree. Somehow this has been lost on our society and we need to get healthy and open dialogue back. Even when you do not agree with them, give them your full attention when they are speaking. Show that your respect their viewpoint and they will more readily listen to you and your ideas.
Intentional inspiration. All charismatic leaders have a strong purpose and focus on others. They understand the importance of acknowledging and putting others first. The emphasis is on serving, not being served.
Smile. It is so simple, yet so significant. People like to be around pleasant people and nothing communicates that better than a smile.
Mannerisms. Have you noticed how charismatic people walk into a room and work the room, how they shake hands, how they hold themselves while engaging and listening to others. Body language matches speech. Confident body language wins people over even without any words spoken. Again, like all of these behaviors, they can all be developed and refined.
Accountability. Charismatic leaders understand the importance of accountability and hold themselves fully accountable for their thoughts, emotions and actions. They elevate their performance by creating a proactive culture of accountability. They understand that true and sustainable accountability cannot be imposed on others through regulations, protocols, or management edicts. Real accountability comes from within each person and reflects individual values and purpose. It’s a choice and charismatic leaders understand this better than others.
Creating a culture where this kind of accountability is the norm doesn’t happen by chance. It requires intentional effort to develop the skill of accountability in yourself and your team. It takes the ability to take ownership of your responsibilities and then taking the initiative to produce key results. A charismatic leader understands what it takes to get people to want to be accountable.
What are your thoughts on this topic? How would you begin to break through your filters to begin shifting your focus on becoming a charismatic leader? We would love to hear from you with comments or questions. Send me a note via email at brad@aperiocoaching.net or on Twitter @bparcells.
In Latin, Aperio means to reveal, uncover, to make clear. Coaching is a powerful process that enables the client to reveal and illuminate their authentic leadership style via a sharp focus on who they are at the core.
