Victor Leung
Victor Leung
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Transform yourself into the person others want to follow

November 06, 2017

Charisma is a skill that we can learn, but not all can be charismatic leaders. However, we can learn about charisma and add the wonder of charisma into our lives. We may train ourselves to build deep trust in our followers by inspiring them to a clear vision. Even if we are not born with charismatic abilities, we can work hard to develop them. Using charismatic leader strategies, we can become more likeable leaders in the eyes of others.

Max Weber, a prominent early twentieth-century German sociologist, popularized the term charisma for the first time. Charisma can motivate. Leaders can utilize reasoned discourse, build moral credibility, and arouse the passions of their people. Followers feel a feeling of purpose, are inspired to do great things, and even have blind faith. Nine verbal and three non-verbal techniques are in the study.

First, charismatic presenters may assist listeners in understanding, relating to, and recalling a message by employing metaphors, similes, and analogies. This technique is especially crucial in my position as an IT consultant, where I have to deliver technical content in business language to top management. To illustrate why our scrum team developers must be cross-functional, I would compare ourselves to a Navy SEAL special forces squad with various specializations. If a sniper could only fire but not handle explosives, he would perish in the war room. Similarly, an Android developer should learn a little about iOS coding if an urgent hot-fix is required in the production environment. This clearly describes the concept of learning and adapting in an agile team.

Second, it makes messaging more interesting and helps listeners connect with the speaker by using stories and experiences. It can motivate and inspire others. Charismatic leaders have a unique manner of expressing themselves verbally and have the ability to find common ground with their audience. Steve Jobs spoke about some of the most critical moments of his life in his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address [6]. The speech is one of the best speeches written from the heart that connects profoundly with another person's spirit. His anecdotes are brief, yet they motivate me to perform outstanding jobs since I enjoy what I do.

Third, contrasts are one of the most straightforward strategies for combining logic and emotion to express your position spectacularly. "And so, my fellow Americans," John F. Kennedy stated in his inaugural address in January 1962, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." This calling is a powerful rhythm for attracting attention and making two things more interesting by polarizing them.

Finally, you can use rhetorical questions to elicit participation. The public speech "I Have a Dream" delivered by American civil rights fighter Martin Luther King Jr. is notable. This speech is a masterpiece for discussing the divide between the American dream and reality, as well as inspiring nearly 250,000 civil rights supporters during the Civil Rights Movement's defining moment.

Fifth, three-part lists are a tried-and-true persuasion technique that distils any message into crucial points. President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is a well-known example. During the American Civil War, his famous words "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not vanish from the earth" influenced the people. After hearing the third item, we believe the list is complete.

Sixth, by using moral conviction statements and comments that represent the group's feelings. This technique establishes the leader's credibility by displaying the qualities of your character to your audience and convincing them to follow you.

Seventh, charismatic leaders can motivate their followers by setting high goals and demonstrating passion. Passion will not emerge unless the leader sincerely believes in the vision and strategic aim. Leaders must also exude confidence in the people.

Animated speech, facial emotions, and gestures are the three nonverbal elements. They are not for everyone, but they are easier for the audience to understand than verbal techniques. Leaders who use these techniques correctly have been shown to unite followers around a vision that others cannot do.

Recently the company promoted me as a team leader; therefore, I could test and practice the methods in my IT consulting firm for a technically complex project involving a mobile app for one of Hong Kong's airlines. I can develop a better emotional connection with team members and make myself appear more powerful, competent, and deserving of respect by employing abilities not restricted to public speaking and ordinary talks.

Preparation and practice are the most effective ways to learn the methods. These main strategies prepare me for public speaking and one-on-one talks in which I must be persuasive and spontaneous. I have to demo the product that our team has created every three weeks at the end of the sprint. I can better show off the coolest features with confidence and get clients enthused about our team's work by employing dynamic speech, facial expressions, and gestures. My presentation garnered a better response due to a balanced blend of techniques based on candid criticism. It's a fallacy to believe that I can't improve because I wasn't born charismatic. I could considerably close the gap and become more charismatic in the team members' eyes via training and practice, making me a more successful team leader for our project.


About Victor Leung

Software development professional with expertise in application architecture, cloud solutions deployment, and financial products development. Possess a Master's degree in Computer Science and an MBA in Finance. Highly skilled in AWS (Certified Solutions Architect Professional, Developer and SysOps Administrator), GCP (Professional Cloud Architect), Microsoft Azure, Kubernetes(CKA, CKAD, CKS, KCNA), and Scrum(PSM, PSPO) methodologies.

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