The Magic of Charisma

February 12, 2007

Suppose for a moment that I gave you a magic wand.

"Here," I tell you. "This wand holds special powers for managers. If you don't believe me, just wave it in front of your employees and watch what happens."

You're skeptical, of course. Nevertheless, you agree to play along just to prove you are a good sport. So, you gather your employees together in a room. And with a flick of the wrist, you wave the magic wand.

Poof! A cloud of smoke suddenly appears. Thousands of tiny particles glitter as they descend like fairy dust over the room.

As the air begins to clear, the first thing you notice is that everyone is smiling at you.

Soon it becomes apparent that your employees have been left completely dazzled. It's as if they have been transformed somehow. They are mesmerized by you. In place of the boss, they now see you as a powerful and dynamic leader.

In the ensuing weeks and months, your charm and appeal continue to grow. People describe you as having a certain personal magnetism. They want to be around you. They take in every word you say. And they will do almost anything you ask of them.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

"Yes, that's wonderful," you may be thinking. "Now, if you will excuse me I have to get back to work. Have a nice day in la-la land."

No, wait.

The effect on others that I just described is real. Some individuals actually do have that kind of power of influence over others. I am referring to individuals who possess charisma, a special quality of leadership that enables them to elicit strong feelings of commitment and loyalty in others.

Charismatic leaders relate to people on an emotional level. They instinctively draw others in. And they have an extraordinary ability to excite and energize people.

The fairy-tale example fits because at times, the effect charismatic leaders have on others seems almost magical. They can inspire people to take on unthinkable challenges and achieve truly remarkable results.

Wouldn't it be great to have that kind of psychological and emotional power?

For managers, the ability to inspire people is essential because formal sanctions and incentives alone are often not enough to motivate people to achieve the organization's objectives. The motivation has to come from within. And charismatic leaders are adept at arousing that emotional desire in people.

Perhaps, you're thinking, "There is no way. Charisma is something a person is born with. Either you have it or you don't."

But, that simply isn't true. The ability to motivate people by managing their emotions is a skill; one that can be learned just like any other management skill.

Charisma is not what you are, it is what you do.

For example, if you were to study charismatic leaders carefully, you would find they all use essentially the same techniques for arousing passion in people and directing that passion toward a particular mission, goal or ideal. Once you know these techniques, you can become more charismatic by practicing them yourself.

Here are a few of these techniques.

1. Optimism - Above all, charismatic leaders are optimists. They don't see problems and obstacles; they only see opportunities to make things better. And they demonstrate an unwavering belief that these opportunities can and will be achieved. Their positive, upbeat attitude offers hope to others who find it reassuring. When people feel confident, they are more willing to try something different.
   
   
2. A vision for the future - Charismatic leaders provide a clear direction. They articulate a specific mission, plan, goal, or ideal. Whatever it is, it promises a brighter future for followers. In explaining their vision, charismatic leaders carefully contrast how people feel now about the current situation or events and how they will feel once the mission or goal is achieved.
   
   
3. Mental imagery - When speaking, charismatic leaders often use stories, analogies, and other forms of mental imagery to illustrate their point. They use words to draw a picture in the minds of their audience.
   
   For example, here is a quote by the presidential candidate, Barack Obama: "Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can't tackle the big problems that demand solutions. And that's what we have to change first."
   
   Notice the use of the words "gummed up" and "tackle" in this statement. Lots of people have said basically the same thing as Mr. Obama, but without the same effect created by these visualizations. Words that create mental imagery have greater meaning to people. They help shape people's understanding of situations and events.
   
   
4. Enthusiasm - Charismatic leaders demonstrate passion and commitment to their vision. They do it not only with words, but with their facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. People admire those who are passionate about their ideas. And they are inspired by such strength of commitment. Enthusiasm is contagious. You can create enthusiasm in others simply by being enthusiastic yourself.
   
   
5. Unconventional behavior - Charismatic leaders sometimes take risks, make personal sacrifices, or act in unexpected ways. Why? To demonstrate their personal commitment to the vision and to set an example for others to follow. For example, one company president dressed up like a chicken, as a way of encouraging workers to have more fun on the job. Another president allowed his employees to throw pies in his face; his approach to breaking down communication barriers caused by rank and authority.
   
   A more common example are company executives who give up visible perks as a way of demonstrating their commitment to lowering costs. Although such measures are largely symbolic, they are still effective at motivating people to take action. Workers figure, "If she is willing to make this kind of sacrifice, then I can too."
   
   
6. Yes Questions - These are called Yes Questions because "yes" is the only logical answer to them. For example, "Don't you want to get this project completed?" or "Wouldn't you like to win that free trip to Hawaii?" Charismatic leaders use these questions as a call to action. They are also used to reinforce the value or benefit of achieving a particular mission or goal. By answering yes, the individual affirms his or her intention to comply. Of course, in order for these questions to be effective, the benefit implied in the question must be something the person really wants and believes is attainable.

By practicing these techniques you can more effectively manage the emotions of your workers and enhance your position as a strong, confident, and influential leader in the organization.

And you can do it all without the hocus-pocus of a magic wand.

Best regards,

Stephen Foster, Ph.D., SPHR
Expert Supervisor, LLC
1607 Village Square Blvd., Suite #8
Tallahassee, FL 32309
(850) 893-5699

E-mail me at: Steve.Foster@ExpertSupervisor.com.