Cultivating Charisma—The Art of Leading with Heart
It is often presumed that charisma - often thought of as an innate magnetism that you are either born with or not - is something that cannot be taught, for the very fact that it is not a neat skillset. Rather, charisma is an umbrella concept that encompasses a combination of emotional intelligence, visionary leadership, a growth mindset, resilience, tenacity, engagement, persuasive communication skills, self-knowledge, transparency, and generosity.
While it is true that charisma is not something that you can read about in a textbook and declare yourself proficient in, manifesting these traits, values, and skills certainly can be cultivated. Indeed, research into charisma ‘training’ in business has clearly demonstrated that it is a quality that can be developed. 65% of individuals who underwent intensive training in charismatic leadership received above-average satisfaction ratings from their peers, compared to 35% in the control group (Antonakis & Fenley: Can Charisma Be Taught? Tests of Two Interventions, Academy of Management Learning & Education, 2011).
Speaking for myself, I have found that cultivating charisma not only leads to net gains in business, but generally serves to improve your own quality of life and those surrounding you. Put simply, life is more fulfilling when you are fully engaged in the business world and community at large. For me, that has translated into putting my heart and soul into our East Timor Trading Group (ETTG) and embracing the local community through championing philanthropic causes. The more we grow, the more we can put money into improving housing and education. Our genuine commitment to improving quality of life and reducing poverty for the next generation of Timorese is core to our mission.
Even as we have grown from a one-man business (running out of a couple of shipping containers) to a small multinational, I have always believed that it is important to remain engaged with the business and staff welfare on the ground. Broadening the horizons of our ETTG family (through career advancement pathways and microloans) is the most rewarding part of what we do.
Without a doubt, charismatic leadership fosters symbiotic loyalty and employee engagement. Industrious Timorese workers such as Salvadore, willing to try their hand at anything, have been with us since day 1. We still have the walk-in-wardrobe that Salvadore constructed out of a storeroom for $20, and it fills me with pride to bear witness to his career progression where today he has risen to the position of Sales Manager.
When it comes to negotiating, charisma is a key advantage. I have always relished the opportunity to see an issue through another person’s eyes, and enjoy the process of building trust and honesty to reach a common ground. Because negotiation is an inherently human process, I always find a point of connection, however small. There is always, always, a pathway out of seemingly difficult situations.
When it comes to family and social life, the same charismatic qualities and values come into play (although they present a little differently). This general zest for life, and a thirst for experiencing new places through travel and meeting new people, greatly enriches the experience we call life. Despite the inevitable adversities of life, contentment is a choice, and charisma is something that can be consciously cultivated.
To dig deeper into my life learnings on charismatic leadership, click here to purchase my book!