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5 Ways to Become a Charismatic Leader

By Caitlin Mazur - Nov. 6, 2022
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Charisma is all too often considered a personality trait when it’s actually a leadership style that can be developed and strengthened.

In this article, we’ll go over what a charismatic leader is, how to become one, and the strengths and weaknesses of this leadership style.

Key Takeaways

  • Charismatic leaders have powerful personalities that inspire and motivate their followers.

  • To become a charismatic leader, connect with your followers, balance lightheartedness with productivity, and be confident, honest, trustworthy, and committed.

  • Charismatic leaders are driven, optimistic, and bring out the best in others.

What Is a Charismatic Leader?

A charismatic leader is a leader that has a powerful personality that inspires and motivates people.

A charismatic leader doesn’t necessarily have to have a large list of qualifications or education to denote credibility. Instead, a charismatic leader manages to compel people simply by possessing a myriad of personality traits that naturally entice a large crowd.

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Five Ways To Become a Charismatic Leader

  1. Build a Connection

    You don’t want to lead by “authority” only. Level yourself up with your team members and connect to them from various angles. Perhaps you share a similar interest or have similar political views? You don’t have to make them feel like you’re the “boss” all the time and they are “under your command.”

    Charismatic leaders have a keen ability to connect with people from all walks of life at a personal level.

    Instead of focusing on you and your demands every time, occasionally ask them if they think you are taking the right step. Let their thoughts and concerns be heard by questioning them about their comfort level with any new task.

    You don’t have to do this every time, of course, but even doing this occasionally would make your team members feel like their leader isn’t just there to lead but also to listen and learn from his or her followers.

  2. Keep Things Light But Remain Productive

    One of the top qualities of charismatic leaders is the ability to ease everyone in the room. These leaders know how to keep the tension at bay with light humor, while still remaining productive.

    They know that a balance has to be achieved which is why they are neither too rigid and serious, nor do they forgo productivity for light moods.

    Using humor every now and then is a great way to break the rigidity and bring the sleepers back to life. One of the best ways to do this is to share a self-deprecating story.

    Think about the number of charismatic leaders that use this technique to lighten the mood in a room: Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy, Anita Rodick, Mahatma Gandhi, etc. Always know the boundaries though, and after enough laughter, snap back to achieving the goal at hand.

  3. Possess and Exude Confidence

    A charismatic leader is also one that has a high level of confidence. Confidence is magical. It makes you believe in what you are saying regardless of your doubts, and very often it compels others to also believe what you are saying even if they believed previously otherwise.

    This quality is of utmost importance for leaders who have a strong vision and mission to follow.

    Great leaders with confidence also possess humility.

    They will be okay if they don’t feel like the smartest person in the room or if they don’t know something their team does. They will empower others to speak their minds and, by doing so, bring about confidence in the team as well.

  4. Be Honest and Trustworthy

    Nothing repels followers the way dishonesty does. Great leaders are honest and dependable. They don’t have to swear upon anything to prove their point. Their followers are positive, through experience, that their leader is speaking the truth.

    Charismatic leaders are also dependable and trustworthy. The team knows that they can trust their leader to not only help them with their problems but also keep them private when necessary.

  5. Have a Strong Commitment To The Goals

    Charismatic leaders who inspire tend to lead by example. They are well aware that their commitment to their goals is important to team motivation.

    Great leaders are willing to get their hands dirty and leave no stone unturned to get the job done. In fact, they are ready to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals through pure passion and hard work.

    This deep sense of commitment and hard work not only portrays them as fair and genuine leaders but also instills the same sense of motivation and hard work among their team members.

Characteristics of Charismatic Leaders

While some people are naturally more charismatic than others, everyone can grow in this area by embracing and developing a few traits specific to charismatic leaders.

These include:

  • Being empathetic.

  • Respecting your team members.

  • Being alert to all possible and existing problems and solutions.

  • Being driven.

  • Motivating the followers to envision the same path to success.

  • Demonstrating a strong commitment to your goals.

  • Bringing out the best in others.

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Strengths and Weaknesses of Charismatic Leadership

All leadership styles have their strengths and weaknesses, and charismatic leadership is no different.

Strengths of Charismatic Leadership

  • Highly motivating and inspiring.

  • Creates strong sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

  • Highly personable.

  • Usually optimistic.

  • Helps followers feel heard and valued.

  • Often effective at making positive change.

Weaknesses of Charismatic Leadership

  • Image or persona can quickly become the focus.

  • Can become self-serving.

  • May come across as shallow or fake.

  • Can lack concrete action steps.

As you become a more charismatic leader, lean into these strengths and stay on your guard to keep these weaknesses from getting the better of you.

Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia where she has written 140+ articles that have reached over 1 mil viewers as of June 2023. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research.

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