Charisma is a personality trait found in few gifted individuals whose personalities are characterized by a powerful appeal and personal magnetism. Charisma and leadership need not go hand in hand but if a leader is charismatic in nature, it is an added benefit. A charismatic leader can communicate effectively as well as influence people. Let's take a look at different traits one must possess to be a charismatic leader.

There is a major debate which has been unsettled for a while now. According to it, many people believe that charismatic leaders are born whereas; others consider that qualities related to charisma and leadership can be acquired. They suggest that these are the traits of a character which can be cultivated just like habits. Therefore, with a little practice, anyone can become a charismatic leader. Here are a few behavioral traits which are found in a charismatic leader.

Unconventional Behavior

Charismatic leaders tend to have a very unusual behavior. This means that the behavior and habits of these leaders are different from the regular habits and hence, set them apart from other people. This could be a simple habit like speaking or believing in truth like Martin Luther King.  He was one of the very few men who did not believe in slavery and protested against it. Many people did not like the idea but never went against it. In this case, this unusual line of thinking made him the voice of the common man. This surely demonstrates the link between charisma and leadership. But to become a charismatic leader, you need to believe in it. One can’t just pretend that he believes in some kind of idea and then not follow it religiously. This is because the power of charisma is such that a person will have others who support his way of thinking and follow it.

Aura of charisma

Charismatic leaders have a different kind of aura of their charisma. This could be originating from anywhere like a positive attitude no matter how grim and dark the situation is or something as simple as his passion for his work. The aura of charisma is such that it generates a sense of enthusiasm among fellow workers. This trait bonds charisma and leadership together. This quality endears the leader to the common man by creating a sort of link between them. You will notice this trait in the people who are pioneers in a certain area or people who start a company or venture. These people are so passionate towards their chosen area of interest that people are awed to see the level of dedication in them. People around them like partners and co-workers tend to get inspired by such leaders and exhibit high level of performance and commitment towards their work.

Body language

Another personality trait that binds charisma and leadership together is the body language. Leaders who are charismatic in nature tend to have a very powerful body language. Their non-verbal characteristics are more overpowering than their verbal characteristics. Non-verbal characteristics could include hand gestures, way of moving around, facial expressions, confidence in the body while shaking hands, eye contact while speaking to a person etc. Researchers have found out that this mannerism speak louder than his words. Such leaders need not even speak out; their gestures do that for them. These gestures and other non-verbal ways of communication are used by charismatic leaders to project their charisma sometimes knowingly or unknowingly. You can take Bill Gates for this kind of a trait. He is very soft spoken but his passion for work speaks out in the form of his body language. When he speaks on a product launch, his eyes and hand gestures speak more than his words.

The traits discussed above are just the main and important behavioral traits which link charisma and leadership together. Of course, there are many more but these are a must in a charismatic leader. It is little difficult to incorporate certain traits in you if you are not born with it. But definitely, the task is not impossible. Passion for your work, confidence is something which will be in your mannerisms once you are a confident player and rest will follow you.

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