leadingtoday.org
Copyright 2002 ã weLEAD, Inc.
For decades it was incorrectly believed by many people that all great
leaders possessed a trait called charisma. This influential trait is
defined as “those who arouse fervent popular devotion and enthusiasm”. It typically includes a strong personal magnetism or charm. Unfortunately, far too many people have actually defined
leadership as if it was synonymous with charisma! Many military generals,
business mavericks and athletic coaches have been quoted extensively to promote
a “winning is everything” or the “only thing” approach to achievement or
problem solving. No doubt that talented individuals like Vince Lombardi and
General George S. Patton had charisma and some valuable leadership skills. It
is true that when used effectively charisma can be a powerful motivating
tool by those leaders who possess it. But this does not prove an exclusive
link between leadership and charisma. In actuality, the majority of leaders who
have ever existed or exist today do not have charisma. The reason is
because it is not essential for leadership.
Sadly
some individuals who have the gift of charisma have misused this tool to manipulate
and deceive followers to achieve personal gain or power. This has been a common
problem throughout human history. Recent news reports about political and
business corruption highlights how certain individuals have misused their power
of persuasion to abuse others for selfish personal gain.
As
a society, our focus should not be on those who have charisma but rather on
those who lead with integrity. Author Jim Collins comments in his book Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the
Leap…and Others Don’t (HarperCollins) that the difference between a good
leader and a bad one is “the inner landscape of the leader”. He spent five
years studying business leaders who took their companies from good to great by
maintaining outstanding performance for at least 15 years. His conclusion is
that the good leaders were “ambitious first and foremost for their cause, for
the company, for the work. Not for themselves. They are self-confident, not
self-centered”.
Did
Collins find that charisma was an essential or even important trait for a good
leader? To the contrary he found that these leaders were “self-effacing, quiet,
reserved, even shy – these leaders are a paradoxical blend of personality,
humility and professional will. They are more like Lincoln and Socrates than Patton
or Caesar”. It is a common cultural flaw
to expect leaders to exhibit charisma or to closely link leadership with
charisma. This flaw has led many down a path of frustration and disillusionment
when the personal charisma of a leader proved to be self-absorbed and shallow.
Instead
of charisma, our culture should focus on possessing leadership qualities like
being trustworthy, genuine, honest and service-minded. These are the traits
that reveal the “inner landscape of the leader” and provide a long-term
motivation for others to follow.
For weLEAD, this is Greg Thomas reminding you
that it was Confucius who said, “Humility is the solid foundation
of all the virtues.”
On the weLEAD
Website you
will find over 70 other free helpful leadership tips. They are all available in
a text version or as an MP3 audio!