Introduction
Charismatic leadership is a form of influencing others through personal attractiveness that causes leaders to be recognized and gives them power over followers. It is primarily associated with individual charm and persuasive communication (Zhang et al., 2020). As an authority source, charisma relates to a director’s ability to affect subordinates through unique individual qualities and leadership styles. The extraordinary skill of appealing to “hearts” allows managers to motivate their associates, instill hope and optimism, and inspire them to engage in self-improvement (Zhang et al., 2020).
According to Jackson (2019), people can be taught to exhibit charismatic, inspirational behaviors that they choose whether or not to perform. At a minimum, such behaviors can uniquely achieve success and strong business results in the long run (Karim et al., 2020). This paper will discuss charisma as a powerful leadership element that can be developed through practice and acquired skills.
Analysis
Charisma as a Potent Component
Key Concepts
One powerful element of charisma is the ability to impact others mesmerizingly, attract people, get their attention, and build social influence. It is an appealing energy radiating character and, simultaneously, the art of mesmerizing people. A person in whose presence there is a sense of comfort, whose words are listened to attentively, who inspires and enthralls, in which its some spark, is necessarily endowed with attractive qualities.
Magnetism, charm, attractiveness, likability, talkativeness, popularity, and sincerity are the term’s primary definitions (“Psychopathic individuals with charisma,” 2022). Charisma is a powerful personality trait that allows one to build a team that is willing to work together despite crises. If there is a sense of spiritual intimacy, partners experience a greater willingness to have open and sincere relationships.
Most of the charisma phenomenon’s explanatory models are, in one way or another, based on Max Weber’s approach. Weber once said that charisma is a person’s quality that distinguishes them from ordinary people and is perceived as possessing supernatural and exceptional capabilities (Mauro, 2022). A manager’s charisma results from merging masses and a leader, evidence of the unity of their thinking, immediate aspirations, and interests. Charismatic personalities have such a magical, almost religious influence on those around them that it borders on occultism. Leaders must prove their charismatic mission by performing “miracles” or causing some “signs.”
About Charismatic Leadership
At any company’s head is a personality – a charismatic leader who is a mover, an inspirer, and a person responsible to the masses. Such leaders are “visionaries” and “exceptional individuals” who exert a profound social influence and generate employee enthusiasm for a common cause (Hu & Dutta, 2022). They tend to create a better work environment, inspire and motivate followers, and share their vision (Karim et al., 2020). Through verbal and nonverbal tactics, emotional displays, and symbolic ways, a charismatic leader can persuasively convey a clear and vivid message to a collective, substantiating a mission, values, and end-states (Meslec et al., 2020). Employees are maximally involved and understand their work’s purpose and meaning. Workers are highly motivated and have energy, enthusiasm, and team spirit; work becomes an exciting adventure.
Charisma can compensate for the lack of status, knowledge, and experience. It can strengthen the influence if all these aspects are present. A leader can lead people to a noble cause or even crime, but people will follow a charismatic man. If leaders possess valuable qualities, people automatically perceive their behavior as noteworthy and desirable, so they tend to repeat the same actions and conform to the same model. Charismatic leaders are always more practical; employees forgive and continue to listen to them, and even in difficult times, such leaders can induce the team to sacrifice their interests without internal resistance.
Charisma Training
Without a doubt, charisma can be acquired through practice and acquired skills. It is not an inherited skill or character trait but a set of mannerisms, habits, behavioral styles, psychological attitudes, and reflexive strategies developed through time and effort (Shah, 2019). Developing charisma can help a person in almost any life situation. Attractiveness is a powerful tool for leaders to get what they want from their colleagues without resorting to the stick or the carrot.
Practice
One must actively practice confident communication with people, sharpen their public speaking prowess, and cultivate emotional intelligence to develop charisma. Many successful leaders and public figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Nelson Mandela, have developed their magnetism over many years. Practices to improve a leader’s charisma are often built on maintaining a positive attitude, mindfulness, confidence, and self-control (Indeed Editorial Team, 2023).
In communication with a partner, a person should remain calm, control the tone of voice, speak sincerely about exciting things, practice eye contact, listen attentively, notice details, and ask clarifying questions (Indeed Editorial Team, 2023). The presence of internal prerequisites, in particular, communication skills and willpower, give a person a huge advantage. Regardless of personality traits, individuals can and should train charisma. Its components, such as oratory, charm, or sincerity, are never redundant.
In a charismatic leader, no decision contradicts their primary interests and critical principles, showing a stable personality, which is the “foundation.” People with solid charisma should have an influential inner director who is an unquestioned authority. Essentially, they must be honest with themselves and others, as the external should be equal to the internal. Charismatics always have ideas of their future and imagine images of such a future. They accept themselves as a whole, with all their virtues, faults, strengths, and shadows. Gaining “contagious pride” is imperative, characterized by a person’s confidence in oneself, their strengths, and their vision. People can be anything they want: fascinating, sought-after, outstanding, attractive, famous.
Skills
It is essential to acquire and improve skills such as listening and effective communication, controlling emotions, showing empathy, and developing conviction in one’s ideas and goals. Charisma is a particular set of skills that every person has to some extent. Charismatic people understand their emotions and can sincerely and freely express them at the right moment. They have a well-developed empathy – the ability to understand other people’s experiences. Responding to other individuals’ feelings, a charismatic leader tunes into the same wave and creates the emotional bond necessary for attachment.
Structuring one’s speech to engage and persuade listeners and interlocutors is especially critical. The non-verbal component is essential: body posture, gestures, expressive facial expressions, and intonation. Even the most exciting information will seem dull if one reads it similarly. High self-esteem and self-confidence are a must for charismatic personalities. People are ready to follow someone who knows what they are doing and will help them overcome their doubts and fears. All these skills and qualities are equally present in charismatic people and allow them to arouse sympathy and achieve success in any sphere.
Conclusion
Charisma is a meaningful component in effective leadership, which must be formed to achieve success and positive results in business and other spheres. A genuinely charismatic leader can attract people’s attention to their person, clearly communicate their thoughts to followers, and influence their activities. Such a person can motivate others despite troubles and inspire them to new feats and accomplishments.
Many experts agree that charisma can and should be developed like any other pattern of human behavior. Leaders can significantly improve charisma through constant practice and learning new skills. Emphasis should be placed on increasing confidence, improving communication skills, controlling feelings, developing emotional intelligence, and more.
References
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