Charismatic Leadership

From Enchanting to Driving

Charisma, clearly depicts a sense of magnetic appeal, of awe. Undeniably a very strong sentiment it is. A mere presence can enthuse one to get into action, that’s the kind of influence ‘charisma’ has.

As is obvious, this is a perfect match for a leader.

Since a lot has been written about leadership, here is my view of leadership in a very specific light called ‘Charismatic Leadership’.

Time and again, we have seen amazing leadership as well as celebrities culminating. Then what marks the difference between the two. What was that persona of the sort of Vivekananda commanded that went missing in Rajnikant. It isn’t a comparison of the personalities, but definitely their impact on the multitude which revered them.

Let’s elaborate it with a more convenient example. Take MANDI.

MANDI as a concept has undeniably huge fan-following. Outsiders, without even knowing the idea of its inception find it exciting and can be willing to join it. Obvious it is, too many glazed attachments that it comes with. Looks all wonderful and ecstatic. That’s the charisma of MANDI. Even I as a fresher just want to be a part of the event, and it is quite possible that no other event would have seen such undaunted attention. But that’s all about the charisma part. Unless and until we’re a part of it, its all stories, good to listen and intriguing in gesture. You call and we do anything to be ‘there’.

But in this whole process, Mandi is growing, evolving in itself. If you’re not there, there’s nothing much this concept is of use to you. But beyond filling that intent sheet, donning merchandise and entering into the market all set in pretence, what lies ahead is a hefty day of challenges and committed targets. What makes that pretence transform to commitment to stand strong in all those not-so-favourable situations is the energy enthused and that is what implies the leadership factor of MANDI’s charisma, Charismatic Leadership in essence.

Its all about an inside-out model of leadership, where you keep on your usual course of self-evolution, but your growth isn’t supposed to be confined. Its contagious and what it causes is to infuse similar urge of betterment into anybody and everybody who is smitten by it ‘the leader’.

If we talk of MANDI, completing the event is one accomplishment, the event encourages many of us to do. But the real embodiment of the success of this concept as a leader is in germinating seeds of entrepreneurs and marketers and biz-wizards of tomorrow.

And as HBR speaks, leadership in essence is an elevation from self to others. Whatever we do for ourselves can inspire others, but its slated as Leadership only when it drives the inspired ones to deliver logical conclusions to their aspirations.

In context of charisma, transforming the piper’s rats (in effect of Charisma – herd mentality) to inspired ‘sisters’ of Lijjat is what forms the core of Charismatic Leadership.