“Charisma is the gift from above where a Leader knows from inside himself what to do”.
Max Weber
What do Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, and Steve Jobs have in common? All three are undisputed leaders, recognized and followed for their ideas. And for this, they possess a formidable quality. A quality that many would like to possess… Charisma!
Clearly, not all of us are born with the qualities of an inspiring personality, so can we learn to become charismatic? Charismatic originates from the Greek word « Kharisma, » which means favor or gift freely given. Charismatic individuals are positive leaders who build and nurture excellent relationships, connect people who do not know each other, have a positive impact, and make those around them feel good. It’s fair to say that they give off a lot of positive energy, which makes them very attractive!
I’ve been fortunate to frequently meet inspiring and charismatic individuals during my coaching experiences, and I’d like to share with you the main characteristics I’ve observed in them.
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Trust
By embodying trust and managing their emotions, the charismatic leader exudes confidence in their judgment and abilities. This, in turn, attracts and inspires others, encouraging behavior through their own exemplary actions. To convey a sense of self-assuredness, the leader knows how to align their verbal and nonverbal communication. They radiate physically through their posture, smile, and gestures. They create a strong sense of intimacy by making others feel fully engaged in the ongoing relationship or conversation. Lastly, they can deliver clear, positively formulated messages, even on complex topics. It’s the combination of all these elements that gives them a strong self-confidence and makes their delivered messages appear very assured!
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Creativity
A charismatic leader is willing to tread the path of innovation, exemplified perfectly by Elon Musk. He consistently ventures off the beaten track, takes risks, and sells us a future that inspires us! Closer to home, Emmanuel Faber is one of the pioneers in France who dared to communicate in a very personal and creative way about his relationship with his brother, particularly to HEC students.
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Vision
Presenting a vision of a better future, often incorporating technology, is crucial for enhancing charisma. Being firmly focused on the future and solutions to enhance it, offering solutions to the world’s strategic issues, and communicating a clear and inspiring vision for others is undeniably decisive.
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Determination
Demonstrating the determination to achieve one’s goals, inspiring followers through ethics, exemplary behavior, and vision are key resources for rallying teams and making employees more fulfilled, committed, and productive.
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Communication
Mastery in the art of communication, the charismatic leader unites and positively influences their teams. They can simplify and make complex subjects accessible.
Key steps to develop your charisma:
- Identify your role models, whether in your work, your company, or any other field! What matters is that this person inspires you through their values, behavior, and stances. Remember, our role models are mirrors of ourselves. If we admire their talents, it’s likely that those talents already exist within us, perhaps not as pronounced or fully developed. For practical application, ask yourself how your role model would think or act in a given situation and follow their example! Even if it might seem a bit challenging at first, with practice, you will easily achieve rewarding results.
Furthermore, I strongly recommend that you regularly « associate » with your role models by reading articles or biographies about them, following them on social media, and staying up to date with their news as much as possible. If they are close to you, increase the time you spend with them! - Reinforce your persona by leveraging your strengths. To do this, identify your 3 to 5 areas of excellence and capitalize on them! Don’t hesitate to ask those close to you about your key talents, and remember, to visualize them, the situations in your life where you have been charismatic.
- Enhance your communication by strengthening your impact and assertiveness. I recommend preparing your strategic presentations with the assistance of a communication professional who will help you clearly define your talking points, align your verbal and nonverbal communication, and integrate varying degrees of personal storytelling (about your family, passions, etc.) that will enable you to fully embody the charismatic leader’s stance. Lastly, dare to share your emotions to convey them to your audience and make them resonate!
- Regularly share your convictions, whether about business, the significance of leadership, your values, or your uniqueness. Don’t hesitate to exaggerate or oversimplify your message, similar to Dr. Laurent Alexandre.
In summary, developing charisma is achievable for everyone, whether introverted like Barack Obama or extroverted like Tony Robbins. All you need to do is engage in continuous learning, such as being fully present with your interlocutors.
So, which area will be the focus of your next development step?
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