The emergence of charisma in the workplace
According to Harvard Business Review (HBR), anyone trained in what they call “charismatic leadership tactics” (CLTs) can become more influential, trustworthy, and “leaderlike” in the eyes of others.
Charisma is the ability to attract the attention and admiration of others, and be seen as a leader. It is underestimated, not only because it can help you create an emotional connection with who you are talking to, but because it also makes you appear more powerful, competent, and worthy of respect.
Interestingly, a study on "Charismatic Leadership Tactics" (CLTs) found that executive’s leadership scores rose by about 60% if they used the CLT skills.
One of Kyocera’s Philosophy sections is titled Management based on a bond of human minds,and we believe that working together is not just transactional; it’s about working together and inspiring those around us to reach their full potential. A key element in this journey is understanding and cultivating charisma—a trait often associated with influential leaders. However, charisma is not an inherent gift reserved for the few; it's a skill that can be developed by anyone willing to learn and practice.
The power of charisma lies in its ability to enhance a leader’s perceived competence, trustworthiness, and influence within the workplace. Charismatic people don’t just communicate—they connect on an emotional level by using techniques such as storytelling, rhetorical questions, and animated gestures to captivate and motivate their teams, colleagues and clients. There are also other CLTs that you can use such as creating a sense of urgency, invoking history, using repetition, talking about sacrifice, and using humour. The more we can communicate value, with trust/credibility, the more collaboration occurs to drive unity, create teamwork and foster personal chemistry.
Charisma enables us to connect more deeply and ultimately drive greater results and it is a skill we can all develop. Share a story, use a powerful metaphor, or simply engage with more energy and passion. Remember, the small changes we make today can lead to significant improvements in how we lead and inspire tomorrow.
I encourage you to take the time to practice charismatic techniques, integrate them into your daily interactions, and watch how it transforms your interpersonal relationships at work. By continuously refining our skills and capabilities like this, we not only contribute to our personal growth, but also to Kyocera’s mission of providing innovative and sustainable solutions for the future.
Jimmy de Waal - Sales and Marketing Director - KYOCERA Document Solutions South Africa
