Have you ever wondered what makes a person charismatic? I have been reading a fascinating line of research by John Antonakis at University of Lausanne and his colleagues, who have been studying the precise characteristics that make a leader charismatic. These charismatic leadership tactics (nine verbal and three nonverbal) contribute in different ways to making a leader’s message easier to picture, remember, and overall more motivating. And I believe these are not just for leaders – each of us can harness the power of charismatic leadership traits to enhance our influence in the workplace. Let’s consider these traits:
Charismatic Leadership Traits:
Metaphors: Simplify complex ideas through relatable imagery.
Stories and Anecdotes: Share personal stories that resonate emotionally and ethically.
Rhetorical Questions: Engage colleagues' minds by creating intrigue and suspense, prompting them to think critically and seek answers.
Contrasts: Clearly delineate what is and what is not a desirable behavior and outcome.
Three-Part Lists: Organize complex information and evidence into memorable lists.
Expressions of Moral Conviction: Stand firm on ethical grounds and encourage others to recognize right from wrong.
Reflection of Group Values: Emphasize shared goals and collective successes to foster a team-oriented environment.
Setting Ambitious Goals: Challenge your team with high goals but provide the encouragement and support to achieve them.
Confidence in Goals Achievement: Instill confidence and optimism about meeting objectives.
Charismatic leaders also make sure their nonverbal body gestures match what they are saying. They reinforce their message and convey their emotional state through nonverbal (1) body gestures, (2) facial expressions, and (3) animated voice and tone.
Charismatic leadership has economic value
A new publication by Antonakis and colleagues tested in both field and laboratory experiments how charismatic leadership can significantly boost work performance and team cohesion. The field experiment involved workers who were given a motivational speech infused with charismatic leadership techniques before they performed a task. The results showed workers who received the charismatic speech increased their output by approximately 17%, a surge comparable to the effects of high-powered financial incentives.
Further laboratory experiments confirmed these findings, showing that speeches rich in charismatic elements could boost performance by up to 19%. However, the study also noted that the impact of charismatic communication varied depending on the social context, suggesting that the presence of a receptive group enhances the effectiveness of charismatic traits.
Try tapping into some charismatic traits at your next team meeting
Charismatic leadership traits offer powerful tools for influencing behavior and enhancing performance across various settings. People at any level within an organization may be able to improve their persuasive power and foster a more motivated and cohesive workplace by adopting some of these traits. Whether it's through summarizing your key message with a metaphor, reinforcing your idea with a compelling story, embodying the group's values, or trimming your list to three-parts, the essence of charisma may help you elevate your individual and collective achievements.