Secrets of Magnetic Leadership

Fake charisma is warts sprinkled with glitter. It disguises incompetence.

Glitter hides bullies with manners.

You don’t need a magnetic personality to make work compelling.

Fake magnatism: Look at me.

Theranos and the deceptions of Elizabeth Holmes illustrate what happens when charisma outruns character.

Charisma becomes destructive when leaders:

• Groom admiration.
• Exploit people impressed with their bloviations.
• Exaggerate threats to elevate self-importance.
• Silence challenging questions.
• Make themselves the center of the mission.

Dangerous charisma makes leaders magnetic. Healthy charisma makes the mission magnetic.

Healthy charisma: Look at what matters.

Personal charisma draws people to you.

Leadership charisma draws people into worthy work. It’s not personality. It’s rooted in purpose.

Quiet leaders can be charismatic. Calm conviction is more compelling than spurts of sparkly enthusiasm.

If you want to be charismatic:

• Demonstrate commitment.
• Remain steady during hardship.
• Help people see how their contribution matters.

Purpose without emotion is boiled water seasoned with disappointment.

You’re charismatic when you say, “This matters. We can do it. We need you to succeed.”

Magnetic leadership: Come work with us.

#1. Describe worthy work.

• What problem do we solve?
• What happens when we do mediocre work?
• What are we proud to provide?
• Who is better off because we do this well?

#2. Go first.

Things charismatic leaders do first:

• Improve themselves.
• Commit.
• Sacrifice.
• Listen to concerns.
• Savor achievements with people.

#3. Practice calm.

Any joker can project confidence.

Take responsibility during turbulence. Hold steady during adversity.

#4. Draw people toward meaning.

Don’t ask if leaders light up the room. Ask if they draw people into work that matters.

What makes charisma useful rather than dangerous?

10 Ways to “Deal With” Quiet People – Leadership Freak

This post is inspired by the new book How to be Bold