Charismatic Leader
The word “charisma” is rooted in the ancient Greek word “kharisma” meaning “favor or divine gift.” It has come to refer to a specific set of personal traits that have profound effects on other individuals.
Charismatic leadership is centered in an ability to charm and persuade. When a business, political or organizational leader is capable of inspiring and triggering emotional responses in followers, that leader is said to be charismatic. True charismatic leadership evokes genuine emotional changes in others.
Max Weber’s Charismatic Leadership
The charismatic theory’s driving force is Max Weber’s study on political obligation. The German sociologist explored the reasons people follow authority and the findings were published posthumously in 1922 in Economy and Society.
Weber moved away from the classical thinking that authority is achieved through the three routes:
- Self-interest – You obey for material or economic gain
- Fear – You follow the rules because you don’t want the punishment
- Habit – You obey simply out of the socialization of authority
Modern experts generally identify five characteristics of the charismatic leader:
- Confidence: Charismatic leaders exude a calm, strong sense of faith in their skills, experience and abilities.
- Communication: The key to charismatic persuasion rests in the leader’s communication skills, including the ability to listen proactively.
- Focus: Charismatic leaders can focus with laser-like precision on goals, never allowing distractions to take root or steer them off course.
- Creativity: Charismatic leaders generally exhibit a higher degree of creativity and ingenuity at work, coming up with new ideas and suggestions.
- Vision: Finally, leaders with charisma are capable of big-picture creativity, aiming for inspiring and challenging goals that help inspire others.
Visionary Leaders
Visionary leaders are individuals who use an idea about the way things could be to motivate individuals to do as they say. This could be religious in nature, such as a vision of a possible afterlife or a narrative of how humans fit into the big picture of the universe. Alternatively, it could be a more worldly vision of how things here on Earth could function, such as government policies to mandate better working conditions or how a new product could change the world.
When Nelson Mandela stood up for what was right despite imprisonment, he inspired a vision for a better South Africa. When Steve Jobs insisted on the iPhone, iTunes and other Apple products, he did so with a big vision of something that had never been done before.In each of these cases, visionary leaders inspired people to partner with them over an idea in which they believed for a better future.
Visionary leadership not only seeks to solve a problem but also to repeatedly ask why a problem needs to be solved in the first place.The ultimate role of the visionary is to be the person who inspires change and solutions in an organization, industry or the world. Visionaries see things differently and must be able to communicate what they see clearly, as well as why it is important.
Visionary Traits
Visionaries are world changers, industry changers and life changers who share several traits in common. Whether you are hoping to grow in visionary leadership personally or mentor someone in your company to step into that role, here are some character traits to look for and encourage:
- Detail Oriented and Aware: In order to be an effective business visionary, awareness is important. You must be aware of what is happening in order to create something new and different and then stay aware to make sure things stay on track.
- Innovative: Visionaries are by their nature creative and innovative because they come up with solutions to problems that nobody else has thought of in order to create a future better than or different from what anyone else has imagined. They are able to do something with nothing and find resources when it looks impossible to others.
- Convicted: Forging a new path is not easy or for the faint of heart. A visionary leader must have so much conviction that he refuses to be swayed from the path before him, no matter what problems or obstacles arise.
- Determined: Visionary leaders are so determined to reach their destination that they refuse to change it or give up. Instead of changing their goals when the going gets tough, they change the path for getting there and keep going. Their determination inspires hope in others so they can do the same.
- Persistent: Visionary leaders are persistent and know that most successful people fail more than they ever succeed. They remind themselves of all the missed shots the famous basketball star took or the number of times a baby falls before it walks. They remind their people of the same, which inspires persistence across the organization.
- Excellent Communicator: Vision is all well and good, but if someone cannot communicate, it never makes an impact. Visionaries are gifted in communication and they do it often in writing, in speech and in relationships. Because of how they communicate the vision, people are impacted so profoundly that they jump on board.
- Strategic: Visionaries are strategic and intentional. They are not shooting in the dark but rather use the vision to craft goals and to take small baby steps to get where they are going.
- Dedicated: Visionary leaders are dedicated to their values and the vision set before them. They are not distracted by other objectives, and they show up every day and give their best, even when their best is not the best in the world. Because of their dedication, things keep moving and progressing in the direction of the vision.
- Humble: Any good business visionary is humble enough to recognize that he does not have all the skills and answers needed to get where he is going. He admits his weaknesses and mistakes, as well as brings on team players who are strong where he is weak.
- Empower: Visionary leaders thrive on team work, with the understanding that a solid team creates less work for everyone. They encourage communication, friendship and problem solving on their teams. They empower others and equip them with the tools needed for success.
- Service Oriented: Visionary leaders operate with the motive to serve rather than the motive to be served. They look for what they can contribute rather than what they can take, and they find joy in serving those around them.
- Growth Oriented: Business visionaries understand that visions and goals are achieved through growth. They are flexible and see failures as stepping stones rather than setbacks. This growth mindset encourages people in their organization to continue moving in the direction of the vision, even when challenges arise. They may even begin to look forward to challenges as opportunities for growth.
- Ethical: Visionaries live their lives and conduct business with a clear understanding of ethics and the best way to get where they are going. Their underlying moral values and convictions inform their actions in and out of the office.
- Caring: Employees and team members love to work with visionaries because they are caring and truthful. They truly care about the vision but also about the well-being of others in the office and those around them in daily life. They have a knack for connection and are experts in building healthy relationships.
- Inspiring: Business visionaries are so inspiring and dynamic that their visions bring unity to organizations, fields and societies. They have a knack for reaching peoples’ hearts and inspiring positive change that impacts the future for the better.
