Why You Need More Than Charisma to Be a Good Leader

Everyone wears leadership differently. We will all communicate differently, engage differently, and delegate differently. However, at the end of the day, all leaders share similar characteristics and mindsets. Whether you were born to lead or grew into it, all leaders hold similar ways of being, and that is what makes us good leaders. However, some may assume that if you are just charismatic, you can be a great leader. That’s just not the case. Charisma can be important, but it is not what you should rely on. It takes more to be a good leader.?

What Charisma Is Lacking?

Charisma can be a great start, but it should not be the end game. Charisma can show confidence, enthusiasm, and eagerness, but compared to other characteristics, charisma is a very surface-level trait and is not enough to define or sustain solid leadership. Leaders must go beyond charisma to build a team that trusts, respects, and listens to them and feels safe and welcomed by them. Charisma lacks a foundation upon which to build. You can have charisma as a leader, but to be a good one, you need to be more.?

What You Do Need to Be a Good Leader:

The qualities of a good leader need to be deep in their makeup as a person. They must be traits that can be shown, experienced, and relied upon. If you want to be a good leader, ask yourself if you have these qualities.?

Integrity?

A leader with integrity can be seen as honest and trustworthy as they will have a strong moral compass and follow their values throughout even the toughest of situations. This shows that they will be true to themselves and the goals at hand, not swaying if things get hard.

Resilience?

Resilience is key to any leader. It shows that they can adapt, bounce back from a particularly challenging situation, and be ready to handle whatever comes their way. Resilience can also manifest as a positive outlook and emotional stability, showing their teams that they are eager to care for those around them.

Respect?

Respect is an essential aspect of being a good leader. When you show your team respect, it will foster an environment of trust and open communication. Respect can also ease conflicts and help team members get along better with each other. When trust is woven into the business, you will see a more productive, collaborative, and efficient team.

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness and emotional intelligence go hand in hand these days. Leaders must have both. The better you understand yourself, your emotions, your triggers, and your needs, the better you can plan your days, handle conflict, and lead your team with confidence and enthusiasm. These traits will also help your team trust you.

These four traits are far more impactful than charisma can ever be. While you can be charismatic on top of these, building a solid foundation of integrity, resilience, respect, and self-awareness is important to ensure your charisma is helping instead of harming. If you have further questions or want to become a stronger leader, send me a message or contact the team at Wickham James. My best-selling book, The Thin Line Between Cupcake and Bitch, is also a resource on leadership and communications issues.