Poster for Charisma Readings: Susan Nevin

In this week’s readings, the focus was on charisma, and how that quality helps to create a good leader. According to Ronald Riggio, the word charisma actually dates back to religious movements that include Moses, Jesus, the Buddha, and more. The word charisma is thought to mean a “divine gift from grace,” and those who possess charisma hold a magical quality.  In addition, German sociologist Max Weber believed that those with charisma were able to hold command over people using their charm and likable nature, which he argued would enchant others. When someone has charisma, they are usually also seen as role models, and their followers look up to them in a way they would an older sibling or a parent. A charismatic leader, according to these articles, emulates a certain type of person that many people aspire to be. 

When someone possess charisma, they also possess many other positive traits. When someone is a charismatic leader, they are not always but usually very smart, intelligent, and communicate maturely and effective with their partner. Not everyone possess these traits, therefore when someone does, they usually become a successful leader. People who are charismatic also are very good at making positive first impressions, and therefore have people supporting them and believing in them before it is even needed. However, it is one thing to be a charismatic person, and another to be a charismatic leader.

For someone to lead a group of people, they need to be much more than charming and funny, but need to have the emotional stability and maturity to handle the decisions of a group. To become a charismatic leader, Ronald Riggio believes that it is a combination of choosing to be a leader, and being born to be a leader. Riggio claims that while one may have the qualities needed to be a charismatic leader, one needs to choose to pursue that path, and stay driven and motivation in that direction to succeed and stand out in a crowd.