Leadership Series: What is Charisma, Why It Matters, and How to Master It
Updated: Jul 14
What is charisma and how does it relate to managers and leaders? Well, a charismatic person is someone who has the ability to engender admiration in others. In other words, charisma is a quality some people have that allows them to influence others and get their attention.
How does this work when it comes to leadership? First, someone who is charismatic shows confidence, both in how they deal with people and in their ability to make good decisions.
Confidence
How can we show confidence? One way is in the tone of our voice. When we speak with confidence and authority, that makes people feel comfortable around us and increases their trust. Another way to show confidence is in how we walk and use our body language. When you believe in something strongly, that will come across in the way you speak and move.
Second, emotional intelligence is a key feature of a leader who has charisma.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is another characteristic of a charismatic leader. How can we improve our EQ? We can improve our ability to read people’s feelings and show empathy. People go through ups and downs in life, and they will want to speak with someone who listens patiently and empathises with their situation. So, we must listen to other people and show real interest in them.
Then, we come to the idea of a visionary. This one is tricky as things are changing constantly and in ways we don’t always anticipate.
Visionary
Being able to visualize and conceptualize what will happen three to five years down the line in a business is important, but how does one do that? Get to know the market that you are in thoroughly. You can do that by reading news related to your industry and analysing market trends. You can also network with key stakeholders in the industry, either online or through in-person events.
Finally, there is the characteristic that is important, regardless of our job role: communication.
Charismatic people are often extremely good at getting their message across to others. How? By communicating in a way that the other person feels a part of something and is inspired to contribute to an idea or project.
The Takeaway
Charisma is a quality that those in leadership and other roles can use skilfully to communicate effectively. They also want to show high EQ levels, resolving disputes quickly and showing empathy for others.
Some of these skills are useful for other aspects of leadership and management, such as negotiation and being approachable. Or the important quality of trustworthiness. Improving them can boost many aspects of your professional career.
Vocabulary
Engender
(verb)
Meaning: To make a person have a particular feeling.
Example: Leaders engender respect in others when they lead by example.
Empathise
(verb)
Meaning: To understand how someone else feels and share that same feeling.
Example: It is often easier to empathise with a colleauge when we have had a similar experience.
Anticipate
(verb)
Meaning: To expect that something will happen.
Example: The CEO anticipates that the company will increase profits this quarter.
Stakeholder
(noun)
Meaning: A person or group with an interest or concern in a business.
Example: It is important that the business considers the view of all stakeholders.
Conceptualize
(verb)
Meaning: To form an idea in your mind.
Example: The marketing team was asked to conceptualize the product launch.
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