Charismatic Leadership It's one thing to be a leader, it's a completely different thing to be a charismatic leader. So what is it that causes charismatic leadership? Why is it that some leaders seem to ooze charisma, and as a result, so effective in leading and inspiring teams, while other leaders simply call themselves "leaders", or may have the word "leader" in their title, without inspiring or leading at all? Charisma in LeadershipCharisma in leadership is a rare trait that is sadly lacking in many of todays' leaders. If you ask most leaders they may claim to be charismatic, thinking they own the room, and are able to give orders, but little do they know that it takes more than that to be charismatic. In-fact, some may argue that "giving orders" is possibly the opposite of being charismatic. The good news is that here at The Charisma Rules, we believe charisma is a skill that can be taught, and when it comes to leadership, there are a few simple skills you can develop which will instantly catapult your leadership charisma to new record levels. Charismatic Leaders are PresentThere are few things that are more impressive then a leader that is present when interacting with the people around them. We all know the demands of being a leader in the current world mean that there are distractions everywhere, but in a world where it is rare to get anyone's undivided attention for more than 2 minutes, being present and switching off the world around you is a sure fire way to stand out from the average leader. Receiving undivided attention from anyone these days for more than 2 minutes is remarkable, but when it comes from someone in a leadership position, the effect can be tenfold and enormously impressive to the recipient of the this attention. It not only shows respect to those around you, but it sends a message that you care about them and their opinions, and this is secret sauce that will make you appear more charismatic. What so many leaders fail to realize is that Charisma is about the way you make people feel. It is not about being loud, brash or dominating the room, it is about making people feel good when they are around you. As a leader that is present and 100% dialled in to the people they are interacting with, you will instantly be able to do this, and will stand out from the average leaders around you.  Charismatic Leaders Take ResponsibilityCharismatic leaders will never, ever blame others or complain about anything. Yes, they may be unhappy with certain outcomes or the state of certain things, but they know that moaning and complaining about it is no good to anyone. Think about it, when did complaining or whining ever help anything? Instead of complaining, they will come up with solutions, and this is one of the defining character traits between great leaders and average leaders. Great leaders take total responsibility for everything, and know that they are in control of their lives. If someone in their team makes a mistake, they will see this as a failure on their part and a failure of their leadership. A great leader will see this as an opportunity to coach and develop their team member and as a result own the problem themselves. Mastering this is one of the elements that makes them charismatic. They lead from the front, identify problems that need correcting, implement solutions to do this, and by doing so paint a vision of moving forward, which in turn inspires and encourages those around them. After all, what is leadership if not inspiring those around you to move forward in the best way possible.  Charismatic Leaders Praise OthersProbably the most important aspect of charismatic leadership is the ability to shine the light on others and praise them on a consistent basis. It's easy for leaders to take credit for ideas that aren't theirs when presenting them to their own leadership, but the most charismatic leaders on the planet are always quick to heap praise on others and seldom take the credit for anything, rather promoting collective team efforts. What many leaders fail to realise is that successful leadership is about leading others to produce desired outcomes. It is their role to lead and inspire others and to steer them in the right direction, and heaping praise on them, and giving credit where credit is due is one of the best ways to accomplish this. Studies have proven that happy employees are up to 13% more productive than unhappy employees, and an employee that feels valued and cared for is far more likely to be a happy employee. Want to Develop Your Charisma? Here at The Charisma Rules, we believe Charisma is a simple skill that can be learnt. It all comes down to being aware that these rules exist, and then applying them to your life.
If you'd like to learn more about these rules, be sure to grab a copy of The Charisma Rules. |
