Think about your favorite leader under which you have worked. This might be in a job, club, sport, project, or any other organized activity in which you are led. What did you like about this person? What made him/her such a great leader? For most of you the answer is not about how many products they sold, or how many games they won. We appreciate leaders with a good personality, that know how to motivate a team in a way that is empowering and uplifting rather than condescending. Largely, what we define as a good leader is a charismatic person.

Charisma is defined as “compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.” The key here is that charismatic people can inspire devotion in others. In history we have seen charisma used as a leadership tactic by both great and evil leaders. Thinking of leaders of negative groups such as cults or hate groups, it was the charisma of the leader that was able to sway followers to act against their moral compasses. These people had charisma that drew followers to them regardless of their cause.

If charisma can give evil leaders the power of absolute devotion in people, think about the powerful force that charisma can be for an honest leader. We talked last week about character and how people like to work for leaders with good character. They also like to follow leaders that are likeable and relatable. This is where charisma comes into play. 

Climbing the corporate ladder is much like running for office. You have to get people on your side. To rise to the top, you have to win people over and get supporters on your side. If you are not naturally charismatic, don’t worry. There are ways to develop these skills. A great resource is Dale Carnegie’s book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” This is a book that advertising students are required to read, but it is useful information for anyone who wants to learn how to win people over. 

As you are developing your leadership skills, remember to work on social skills as well. People support those who are well liked. It is much easier to maintain talented staff when you are a likeable leader. If charisma doesn’t come naturally, you can develop it over time. Put some effort into developing your social skills as well as your hard skills. 

-       Bria