photo of Martin Luther King, Jr.; public domain
Quality 2: Charisma; Drawing People to You
What is it about great leaders that not only gets people to stop and listen, but to take action? Charisma. Those who have it brandish it with ease. Those who don’t think of it as some kind of gift, a mysterious - almost magical power. But charisma is not a birthright, nor is it a dark art; it is an ability that can be learned.
Charisma, plainly stated, is the ability to draw people to you. And like other character traits, it can be developed. John Maxwell in The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader
So how do you develop it?
Have Zest for Life
If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind. Norman Vincent Peale
People are attracted to people who are happy, excited, energetic, and enthusiastic. No one will follow a cynic. Stay positive, upbeat, confident and genuine - and people will listen and follow.
Make People Feel Great About Themselves
When I left the dining room after sitting next to Mr. Gladstone, I thought he was the cleverest man in England. But after sitting next to Mr. Disraeli, I thought I was the cleverest woman in England. A woman when asked her impression of the two English statesmen Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone after dining with them.
There is nothing more magnetic than someone who makes you feel great! Be genuinely interested in people, use their name, listen to them; you’ll have a following in no time.
Help Them See the Oak Tree
The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already. John Buchan
There are two things that are true of most people. They will almost always deliver what is expected of them, and they do not expect enough of themselves. If you expect more from those around you and help them see their potential, you will enrich your life and the lives of those you lead.
Share Yourself
You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. Kahlil Gibran
People love leaders who share themselves and their life journeys. Share your wisdom, your resources, even your special occasions. Think about how you can add value to people’s lives and then share your journey with them.
Recap:
- Have zest for life
- Make people feel great about themselves
- Help them see the oak tree
- Share yourself
For more ways to build your charisma make sure to read Tina’s practical advice in 8 Keys to Instant Charisma at Think Simple Now.
Note from Bruce: I have recently revisited John C. Maxwell’s The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader
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