Charismatic Leadership Uncovered

During this Q& A session, typical questions about charisma and charismatic leadership are addressed.

1. Why do many people describe themselves as charismatic?

The short answer is that people often like to consistently think well of themselves. They want to be seen as attractive, smart and engaging. Charisma is an ideal that most people desire and usually draw on one incident where they demonstrated charismatic traits. The fact is that charisma is more than what one does. It is who one is.

2. Why are people delusional about their charisma quotient?

Pundits and opinion makers often characterize charisma as easily attainable through certain behavioral manifestations. By merely developing high interpersonal skills, great oratory and the ability to tell great stories, one may be described as charismatic. Because many pundits do not delve into the inner recesses of the charismatic mind, they do not know what goes on inside the charismatic personality.

3. What actually goes on inside the charismatic personality?

Although charismatic personalities may differ from person to person, there are some similarities that may emerge. For example, the typical charismatic personality sees itself as a “bigger than life” figure. His vainglorious exploits are representative of his passion and missionary zeal for some great task to accomplish. He sees connections that other view as disparate. Charismatic personalities are immersed within the field of ideas as well as a compelling idea that serves as a motivating factor.

4. Is there a distinction between being charismatic and exhibiting charismatic traits?

Yes, anyone can utilize the tools used by charismatic personalities, i.e., engaged eye contact, focused attention and emotion-filled dialogue.
However, charismatic personalities use the aforementioned tools s as well as possess an insatiable desire to understand human nature, a preternatural ability to dedicate one’s life to a specific task and a “big picture” view of the world that has to be brought to fruition. Charismatic traits scratch the surface of a visceral charismatic personality.

5. What influences create a charismatic personality?

Extreme emotional sensitivity, social environment, insecurity, and biological proclivities make for the charismatic personality. Charismatic personalities emerge from the fusion of personal strengths and weaknesses aligning to create a highly motivated, highly imaginative, self-possessed, force of nature.