It can be really easy for misconceptions to cloud the path to effective leadership growth, which is why it’s crucial for leaders to understand what truly contributes to successful leadership. 

With a lot of common myths floating around, we’re debunking some prevalent leadership development myths and providing insight to guide leaders towards practical, impactful growth strategies. 

Here’s the first myth off the rank: the charismatic leader!

Myth 1: The Charismatic Leader 

One of our prevailing images of leadership is the transformational charismatic leader who makes great decisions and is never wrong. They seem to be totally confident and self assured. On the face of it is a hard act to aspire to. Charisma and self confidence can take you a long way.

One of the most pervasive myths is that leadership is an innate ability—something you are born with. This belief can be disheartening for aspiring leaders who may feel they lack the natural flair seen in high-profile CEOs or charismatic public figures. 

Just think about today there are a number of charismatic leaders around but how moral and ethical are they? In today’s business world, how realistic is it that one person can save the day? They can certainly have influence but collaboration is usually critical to sort out complex problems, and is the assumption that charisma and self confidence a reliable indicator of competence correct?

We do like charismatic self confident leaders though, particularly when solutions are complex and easy answers are gratefully accepted. Whatever your politics, you might agree Trump’s followers seem to like him more enthusiastically than Joe Biden’s followers do.

Charismatic leaders who are well intentioned, ethical, and create a positive shared vision can basically be considered transformational leaders. Charismatic leaders who abuse their power for personal gain and lie and manipulate their followers belong to the “Dark side of the force”. 

‘The death of the charismatic leader has been grossly exaggerated’. Mark Twain 

In the business realm, we believe that charisma is starting to evolve and the new type of charismatic leader sees and feels the social environment around them. They ‘get’ the people and the dynamics of the organisation. He or she is a master at giving the stage to others. 

Above all, the new charismatic leaders have less of a ‘push’ style (messaging) and are more able to ‘pull behaviours’ around them. They would be firm and visible but also far more humble.

In old style charismatic leaders power is concentrated on the leader. These charismatic leaders can convey trigger feelings such as: ‘he/she is brilliant, great charisma, I am not sure I trust him/her, though’. 

The new type produces first a ‘I trust this person, and then other traits follow.’

As we say at Mantle, trust is the currency of influence.

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