Comments on: Charisma in Leadership? It’s Highly Overrated http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2009/07/06/charisma-in-leadership-it%e2%80%99s-highly-overrated/ All about the issues that arise when workforce issues converge with business management. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:20:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.3-2.2.1 By: Jack Zenger http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2009/07/06/charisma-in-leadership-it%e2%80%99s-highly-overrated/#comment-42592 Jack Zenger Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:49:35 +0000 http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2009/07/06/charisma-in-leadership-it%e2%80%99s-highly-overrated/#comment-42592 In a blog of July 6th, 2009 you wrote: “Wendy Kopp is right; charisma IS overrated, because it is a surface quality in most people that has little to do with teaching, leadership or actually getting people to perform.” The accuracy of that statement obviously depends on how you define charisma. Frankly I haven’t found two people who defined it the same way. Little academic research has surfaced in the past decade. If you think charisma equates to exuding charm and social polish, I’d agree. We have some extensive data based on multi-rater feedback to about 14,500 leaders that confirms that the quality of “inspires and motivates to high performance” was the single most important leadership competency. It is the most highly correlated competency with high levels of employee commitment and it is the quality subordinates most yearn for in their boss. If you concur that “inspiring and motivating” is quite synonymous with charisma, our analysis is that the components of inspiring behavior are far from surface qualities; but include things like setting stretch goals, creating clear vision, communicating effectively, being a good team player, developing people and being innovative. We deconstructed this “inspiring and motivating” quality by analyzing 1000 such leaders and determining what they did differently from those who were seen as ho-hum, uninspiring leaders. Bottom line----don’t sell “inspiring and motivating” behavior short as an important driver of business results. Jack Zenger, CEO Zenger Folkman In a blog of July 6th, 2009 you wrote: “Wendy Kopp is right; charisma IS overrated, because it is a surface quality in most people that has little to do with teaching, leadership or actually getting people to perform.” The accuracy of that statement obviously depends on how you define charisma. Frankly I haven’t found two people who defined it the same way. Little academic research has surfaced in the past decade. If you think charisma equates to exuding charm and social polish, I’d agree.

We have some extensive data based on multi-rater feedback to about 14,500 leaders that confirms that the quality of “inspires and motivates to high performance” was the single most important leadership competency. It is the most highly correlated competency with high levels of employee commitment and it is the quality subordinates most yearn for in their boss. If you concur that “inspiring and motivating” is quite synonymous with charisma, our analysis is that the components of inspiring behavior are far from surface qualities; but include things like setting stretch goals, creating clear vision, communicating effectively, being a good team player, developing people and being innovative. We deconstructed this “inspiring and motivating” quality by analyzing 1000 such leaders and determining what they did differently from those who were seen as ho-hum, uninspiring leaders.

Bottom line—-don’t sell “inspiring and motivating” behavior short as an important driver of business results.

Jack Zenger, CEO
Zenger Folkman

]]> By: Jason Lauritsen http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2009/07/06/charisma-in-leadership-it%e2%80%99s-highly-overrated/#comment-40195 Jason Lauritsen Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:29:34 +0000 http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2009/07/06/charisma-in-leadership-it%e2%80%99s-highly-overrated/#comment-40195 Good thought-provoking post. To isolate any singular attribute and discuss whether it is essential to leadership is to do an injustice to the complexity of leadership. Charisma can be situationally critical. I don't think it is univerally important as a leadership criteria, but I've seen situations where a non-charismatic leader would likely fail. We could have the same debate about intelligence or energy. Good thought-provoking post. To isolate any singular attribute and discuss whether it is essential to leadership is to do an injustice to the complexity of leadership. Charisma can be situationally critical. I don’t think it is univerally important as a leadership criteria, but I’ve seen situations where a non-charismatic leader would likely fail. We could have the same debate about intelligence or energy.

]]> By: Tim Sackett http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2009/07/06/charisma-in-leadership-it%e2%80%99s-highly-overrated/#comment-40120 Tim Sackett Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:31:29 +0000 http://workforce.com/wpmu/bizmgmt/2009/07/06/charisma-in-leadership-it%e2%80%99s-highly-overrated/#comment-40120 John, I always find it that people who lack charisma, tend to believe it's not a leadership trait - while those who have it tend to believe it's a primary trait of leadership. Somewhere in the middle I'm sure is the sweet spot - but I tend to be a person who responds more to someone with charisma - so we probably need to add the component of the learner to this discussion as well. Good post, Tim John,
I always find it that people who lack charisma, tend to believe it’s not a leadership trait - while those who have it tend to believe it’s a primary trait of leadership. Somewhere in the middle I’m sure is the sweet spot - but I tend to be a person who responds more to someone with charisma - so we probably need to add the component of the learner to this discussion as well.
Good post,
Tim

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