Overcoming the Seduction of Charisma
Charismatic leaders are bigger than life. You aren’t one of them.
Very few leaders move people through charisma, personality, and up front skills. It’s not likely you have enough charisma to lead through charisma.
Successful leadership doesn’t require charisma.
Weak people want leaders to be bigger, brighter, and prettier than they are. But, everyone’s a mess somewhere. Those who’ve arrived haven’t! Drop the façade. Everyone’s on a journey.
Charismatic leaders create followers.
Great leaders create leaders.
Hypocrites say leadership is about others and then say look at me.
Do you enjoy someone:
- Looking over your shoulder?
- Telling you what to do?
- Rushing to fix?
How do you like it when someone “helps” you? I hope you hate it! Potential leaders hate it too.
If they don’t hate being helped, you’ve trained them to be helpless monkeys looking for bananas from their zookeeper.
Create leaders by asking questions like:
- What are you accomplishing through others? Why is it important?
- How are you impacting the emotional state of others? Lift potential leaders out of their own world and into the world of others.
- What’s frustrating you? Help them clarify priorities. Leaders who aren’t frustrated with something are losers.
- Where and how can you make the greatest impact? Establish focus.
- Do you need anything from me? Don’t help until you’re asked. If you see a train wreck coming, determine if it’s worth it to let it happen. Step in reluctantly and never say, “I told you so.”
Tips:
- Expect ownership. The more you own, the less they own. Ownership includes owning the good and the bad.
- Be available. Don’t meddle.
- Listen don’t solve.
- Everything is a learning opportunity.
- Allow or create strategic disadvantage. Moderate stress creates growth.
- Agree on high standards.
Develop the ability to develop others. Forget about developing charisma.
How might charisma get in the way of leadership?
How can leaders best create more leaders?
“Charismatic leaders create followers. Great leaders create leaders” Love that.
Thanks Douglas. Much appreciated and best success to you.
Great quote: Develop the ability to develop others. Forget about developing charisma.
I find that there’s a difference in true charisma and in charismatic leaders. Charisma can be perceived when a leader is passionate about his cause or work and infects others with the same passion. In this case, the leader EXPERIENCES a charismatic moment rather than CAPTURES charisma for himself. Just a developing thought as I read through and thought about my own experiences.
I really appreciate the questions you list here. As I turn over a really important project to a new leader, I’m struggling to avoid that over-the-shoulder situation and needed to hear this!
Thanks Justin.
Wonderful observation about charisma and trying to be charismatic. Much appreciated.
The hardest things we do is not getting over involved.
“Leaders who aren’t frustrated with something are losers.”
That quote is amazing. I think that frustration is why those leaders fight to change the status quo.
“Leaders who aren’t frustrated with something are losers.”
This is why leaders can get the drive to change the status quo.
Thanks Josh.
Down below Croadie made an important addition to the sentence.
Well said, Dan. Charisma will take you just so far; leadership skills and developing the skills of others carry the day. Thanks for another great blog.
Thanks Al. I spent too many years worrying about being a charismatic, dynamic leader. Wasted effort if you ask me.
Like the remark that everyone is a mess somewhere.
Thanks Marsha. I want it to have a leveling effect. cheers
So true. The so called Charismatic leader is all about the big show and the big lights. Their style is about moving the masses emotionally. They usually have little substance and when they are exposed to the masses as just another ordinary human being, their world comes tumbling down. Leaders today definitely need to have enthusiasm and passion for their purpose but it must be built on a solid foundation of values, people and true leadership. These principles dont chanage…long after the bright lights are gone.
Thanks Chris.
I’ll add that some charismatic leaders have both substance and style. I’m sure most would agree. However, like you, I’ve seen leaders who were more image than substance. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.
This is a frequent discussion with nonprofits – real leaders build a connection to the cause and organization, while charismatic leaders build the connection to themselves. When they leave the organization, they bring their followers with them to their next project, instead of leaving a successful and powerful organization behind them.
Thanks Katie. Much appreciation for your distinction in loyalty to individuals vs. loyalty to organizations.
Several comments are negative toward charismatic leaders. My intent wasn’t so much to attach charismatic leaders as it was to encourage us “regular” folk to realize that leadership and charisma are/can be two different things.
Love the clarity of your point re ‘connecting a cause to themselves’.
Some really impactful one-line guidelines in your post today, Dan.
Leaders with charisma is a topic that touches a deep nerve with me. I’m wondering . . . is it possible that we all have times in our lives when we are more open to the “spell” of a charismatic leader? I know I was; and it ultimately cost me in the six figures, a business, and a great job. Glad that it’s well in the past now; but I encourage all your readers to pay particular heed to your post today. I’ve always considered myself a logical, conservative, skeptical business person; but there was that one time that I let myself become an unquestioning follower. Never again.
Thanks Scott. Much appreciation to you for sharing your story. You illustrate one of the huge dangers of charismatic leaders. You have my respect for your honesty and candor.
Dear Dan,
I appreciate the statement ” Drop the facade, everyone is on a journey”. It is really powerful and true. Weak people always need someone who can lead them. They need psychological and social safety nets. And that is why they look for someone who can protect their interest. I agree with you that it is the matter of perception. We create our own boundary and try to justify that. And the moment we challenge our limited thinking, we start widening our boundary. We create our own mask of ignorance and helplessness. And this makes a great difference between leaders and weak person. Weak person wear mask and leader takes out that mask.
Sometimes, I also feel that charismatic leaders wear different kind of mask. They are more interested in showing their presence and hence do everything that can strengthen them. And in the process, others tend to become powerless. Authentic leaders, on the other hand create leaders who can create impact on surrounding.
And I think, being authentic, one can become leaders and can create more leaders. It also appears to me that charismatic leaders are more polished but authentic leaders have more contents.
Personality and charisma are incredibly important when it comes to sales and motivating a team. If its your lead into each and every situation it will cause your team to be reluctant to learn from you however.
I agree that high performing team members don’t always respond to these type of interactions. Additionally the team members that own their development and are driven to learn are the most effective.
Teaching others how to operate a business is the fundamental action for growth. Use charisma when you have to “enthusiasm sells”, but be a mentor and allow others to develop alongside you.
-Michael Dooley
Leaderdevelopmentblog.com
“Great leaders create leaders”…. Amen to that! Surround yourself with great people and as Jim Collins has said – “put the right people in the right seats on the bus.” I would add – then teach them (and allow them) to drive the bus too!
I’ve seen too many leaders who are afraid to let go of the reins and let others utilize their talents to lead or do – which would increase ownership and effectiveness. As you noted, “expect ownership… the more you own the less they own…” That is a good thing, not something to be feared! You don’t have to be at the front of the line all of the time to be an effective leader!
Sorry to be late into the conversation – just finished taking down the balloons my motivational posters and turned of Katy Perry singing Baby you’re a Firework :).
Can I add one qualification just to avoid the disillusionment of many people we find in the workplace:
“Leaders who aren’t frustrated with something – and doing something about it – are losers, .”
Ever the pedant, thanks for the reminder.
Hows the book going?
Richard
KaChing! Great add Richard.
Book is going well. Thanks for asking. 🙂
Dan,
What is your opinion when a Leader fades into the background and the people are the stand outs?
That makes him a true leader Cranston. A true leader is content to see his employer thrive, irregardless of who gets the credit. To go one step further. The leader often recieves acplades for the good work thier people have done, even when he had little or no involement. These leaders always rite the wrong and see to it that those whom deserve the credit, get all the credit. “Thats a true leader”…
Once again, Dan, hammer hits nail. All of the points are right on the money. The only problem is that the only truly charismatic leader I ever worked with (not for) could have written this. I don’t think he ever traded on that charisma, though, because he is a visionary and perhaps it is his vision that has the charisma. At any rate, to this day he surrounds himself with smart people and builds leaders much in the manner you suggest above. Cool dude. For the rest of us, these are great reminders. Thanks.
Charisma is great if your an actor, a comedian, or you want to momentarily motivate people. Charisma may make you an interesting person, but it often hinders you from being an effective leader. In my experience, I find most charismatic leaders think if it were’nt for them, thier company would fall apart. LEADERS CAN’T DO EVERYTHING. If you want to best your employees have to offer, get to know them, “really, get to know them”. You’ll find divercity, skills , and talents that otherwise would remain dormant. Build teams of diverce skills and talents and let them go. Be there when they ASK for your guidance, advice or expertise. Be slow to take charge even during struggle. It is working through struggle that builds confidence, team cohesion, and future leaders. Like cream, these potential leaders begin to ‘rise to the top’. Always remain vigilant for potential future leaders and help them grow. How can one exspect to move up if you’ve prepared no one to take your place?
I’m frustrated with something(s) daily, I must be doing well.
Not sure I understand “5. Allow or create strategic disadvantage”.
We are only fooling ourselves and not doing a very good job of that…I can’t tell you the number of times I have been in “the room” with folks from the ivory palace and been underwhelmed and overly disappointed by their disingenuous rhetoric, flowery statements, and suspicious overtones. They want to “shine” but do not want to engage the team. They want to take but not give credit.
Many times charisma and ego are intertwined…and I’m not sure which comes first. Those with charisma tend to have puffed up egos, and those with puffed egos find it easier to exude charisma. The truth is, charisma requires a lot of self-confidence. It also requires the ability to communicate with honesty and be likable. All of these are traits that are desirable in a leader…but it reaches the tipping point when the focus shifts from others to ourselves, and that is always the danger of ego.
Great post, Dan!
Charisma. Compelling attractiveness or charm that can in inspire devotion in others. And\or divinely conferred power or talent.
Just can’t see how that gets in tre way of leadership.
In my experience leaders duplicate themselves by following the plan….
Trust God
Clean House
Help Others
I suggest following a plan that leads to a vital spiritual experience and then freely offer that to others when they show they want what u have and are willing to go to any length to get it.
SP back to the present!!
Thanks Scott.
Great leaders don’t duplicate themselves. They help others find and be themselves.
I’m not against charisma. I’m saying don’t try to have it when you don’t. Many successful leaders are dull.
My experience is many leaders are trying to be like the few charismatic leaders that exist. That makes them fakers.
Got it!!!!
To thine own self be true!
Not be like the other dude cause you think he is more awesome than u!!!!
We are all one of a kinds and an each ness is the allness of God!
Proclaim your Rarity…Simon Potter
Find the gift you err sent here up share and share away!!
Just shared dictionary definition cause I have found many times I thought words meant something quite different than they actually do. Life can be a stinker having the wrong meanings of words swirling around in my head.
SP
Yes, I agree. I have had my share of charismatic leaders. I think the world has had so as well. Not that charisma in itself is bad, but if not managed, you can believe in the myth of your own charisma, and everything you do, is then done to build the myth
This post inspired quite a bit of conversation in our leadership circle! Although I see the “dark side” of charisma, I don’t see charisma as a completely negative trait. There are charismatic leaders that also empower.I think some charisma may even serve as the extra boost that turns average leaders into great ones. Charismatic leaders naturally exhibit greater self-confidence, persistence, determination, passion and even optimism than a non-charismatic leader. The goal though should be to have followers who will eventually lead themselves, right? Most of us follow before we lead and followers CAN become leaders, given the right leader.
I think it can take some charisma to get those committed followers in the first place followed by enabling them to lead. Charisma is not all Adolph Hitler or Jim Jones! While charisma isn’t enough to make a successful leader, it’s not always the horrible trait you make it out to be. Again, Charisma certainly has that dark side…. If leaders are charismatic and ego driven then they’d rather keep power for themselves, and that’s very ugly. But charisma with empowerment, I think that’s a good thing.