Who hasn't experienced a situation like this? You're at an event, surrounded by people, trying to start a friendly conversation, looking for a way to break the ice, and suddenly, someone, without making the slightest effort, grabs all the attention.
The appeal of that person is undeniable, whether it be their walk, behavior, voice, or quick wit. They radiate a natural grace as if blessed with a unique gift. This quality, be it charm or magnetism, can be summed up as the charisma or knack that some individuals possess to enchant others.
Being in a leadership position entails guiding and counseling others. This role requires particular skills and qualities such as strong communication, empathy, commitment, collaboration, creativity, perseverance, and charm.
So yes, charisma helps a leader because it will provide him or her with very useful tools when it comes to managing teams, and projects or getting others to listen.
I feel blessed to have been surrounded by great leaders (and not-so-great) from whom I was able to learn and understand what it took to have a voice and lead by example.
Is every leader charismatic?
The question we ask ourselves then is whether every leader is naturally charismatic or whether, on the contrary, charisma can be learned. As per John Maxwell, an American writer and lecturer known for his insights on leadership, charisma should be integrated into a leader's character. It is not an innate quality but can be developed through the implementation of specific communication strategies.
American journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Duhigg shares the same opinion. He analyses the ability of conversation as a tool to connect with others in his book “Supercommunicators: How to unlock the secret language of connection”.
As the author himself explains in an article he wrote for The Wall Street Journal, “charisma does not consist of a great performance. It is a state that we provoke in other people”.
This is what John Maxwell calls the ability to attract people to you. In his book “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader”, Maxwell dedicates a chapter to charisma and establishes four requirements for developing it.
Be generous, sharing time, resources, and knowledge.
Finding the good in others and encouraging and helping them reach their full potential.
Have a cheerful, optimistic, and enthusiastic attitude.
Give hope to the group or organization you lead.
At the same time, to work on charisma, Maxwell recommends staying away from these five characteristics that generate rejection in people and prevent the goal sought, that of attracting. (Narcissists and dictators tend to have these characteristics)
Being too proud and thinking that you are better than others.
Being insecure.
Not being clear about your goals.
Being a perfectionist and creating unrealistic expectations.
Being cynical.
There is a delicate balance between confidence and arrogance that can greatly influence how you are perceived by others.
Keys to Improve Charisma
From this starting point, knowing which aspects we should enhance and which ones we should modify or abandon, both John Maxwell and Charles Duhigg give a series of keys to perfecting a person's ability to connect with others and attract attention.
The first is to observe how people interact with others and see if the conversation is focused on them or not. The goal is to make our conversations center on our interlocutors, who feel that they are being listened to, and that what they say is important.
Another tool that Maxwell recommends is what he calls “making a good impression”; that is, remembering the name of the person you have met, and asking them about their interests. Duhigg clarifies in this regard that “the key is to ask deeper, but not indiscreet, questions that invite meaningful and revealing answers.” It is not about using hackneyed questions but simple ones that demonstrate your interest in the other person.
The third technique is to share your knowledge and resources so that others can learn and grow personally and professionally. Trying to be approachable and accessible is important because the team has to feel that their leader is there, by their side. They must have a reason to follow you and one of the reasons they will do so is because they feel that they know you.
How does charisma help leadership?
It is nearly two decades since I first jumped on a public stage in front of strangers and realized how important being charismatic and magnetic was for people to listen.
Your skills may secure you a job or contract, but it is your capacity to communicate effectively and earn people's trust that will advance you within the hierarchy. This is what leadership is all about.
Having charisma is essential for effective leadership, as it allows leaders to effortlessly inspire and motivate others.
A charismatic leader can effectively communicate their vision, evoke enthusiasm, and build strong connections with their team. This emotional appeal fosters trust and loyalty, encouraging people to follow willingly.
Charisma also helps leaders navigate challenges by rallying support and maintaining morale, making them influential and effective in driving success.
As we approach the final quarter of the year, let's collaborate to become the most effective leaders we can be and motivate the future generation.
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