I thought that with the upcoming elections cycle this newsletter highlighting “Charismatic Leaders” would be most appropriate but not just for politics sake but as a view into the business world and how it can apply.

Alexander the great crossed the unconquerable Alps Mountain along with his soldiers, which until then no one had conquered. What was it that led their followers to believe in them that they did the unthinkable? These leaders, charismatic indeed, had won the trust of their followers to such an extent that the followers believed in every word, action and deed of their leader.

What is charismatic leadership all about? It is the magnetic personality of the leader, which attracts peoples’ mind, body and soul. These people are willingly to accept their leader’s authority and are ready to lay down even their life for the pleasure of their beloved master.

Charismatic leadership is a trait, and the charismatic leaders constantly hone their skills to win their followers’ loyalty. Charismatic leaders constantly device strategies and keep on innovating themselves so that their followers are always with them. Charismatic leaders first try to understand the environment in which they are working. They give a great deal of importance to peoples’ moods and sentiments and try to associate with them personally. They exhibit tremendous and deep faith in their followers. They enchant their followers’ heart by their wit and charm. Charismatic leadership is not only about using words to impress the followers; it is also about conveying the right message to the followers with effective body language.

Charismatic leadership is also about creating a unique identity of the group, which is very distinct from the other groups. The leaders create a distinct image of the group in the minds of the followers so that the followers can easily identify themselves with the group (mirroring), which in turn gives the followers a sense of belongingness. The charismatic leader has tremendous self-belief; they always walk the talk, has patience, and exhibit tremendous determination. They have high risk-taking capability. They are ready to give up conventional ideas and willingly go for an unconventional way to achieve the desired result; most of the time excellence is the outcome.

Not everything about a charismatic leadership is fascinating. It has some darker side too. What if a charismatic leader starts believing that he or she are infallible? What if they start using their charisma to ruin the minds of others? Leaders like Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini have used their charisma to fulfill their sinister motives and had created chaos in their society. These leaders sometimes become addicted to glorification and do not tolerate any kind of criticism. They generally refrain from grooming others for leadership, as they do not want anyone to question their authority or competition, this can happen at all levels of government and business when the wrong leader is empowered.

In spite of some ill effects, a charismatic leader not only transforms the society but also provides a new meaning to human civilization. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Teresa are some of the charismatic leaders who have influenced and have change society in immeasurable ways.

Are you a charismatic leader, and do you recognize the great power and responsibility that comes with the talent? It’s a balancing act but the true at heart are for the betterment of government, business and society as a whole.

In this complex and challenging world with supply chain and work force shortages it’s also rarely easy to find that dream job in the career of your choice. Having a good resume that has all the right attributes that passes the filters that can get you in the door and encourage the prospective employer to meet with you is the goal.

They’ll want to discuss your future with their organization and how you would fit in; however, poor use of body language may cause you to lose your job opportunity just when you thought you’d won it.

The interviewer doesn’t say, “I want a person who can use body language”, at least that’s not their first consideration. They are more than likely looking for a person who is honest, confident, and has other qualities that will help them succeed in their organization.

The body language simply shows the interviewer if you have those qualities. Your job during the interview is to give yourself a fair shake and perhaps an advantage. It’s important to display all of your quality attributes with your body language so that the interviewer will understand what a good team member you will be.

This should start before you even walk in the door. You need to practice in front of a mirror or videotape yourself in a role-playing situation of a job interview. Study your body language to find meanings you don’t intend to display. Then, be sure to be on time for the interview.

From the time you enter the office, someone may be noticing your body language. If you have to wait in a reception area, it’s best not to fiddle with notes that you may have brought with you. Instead, casually look through magazines or brochures to pass the time. Your body language will denote ease and confidence.

When someone comes to tell you it’s time to go in for the interview, enter the room as if you did it every day. Stride in with your head held high and your body moving with ease and assurance. Don’t be apologetic by your body language about the way you do it.

Before you start the interview, you should shake the interviewer’s hand. Give a firm, but not overpowering, handshake. Always shake hands with your palm up. If your palm is down, it will imply that you are dominant. The interviewer will not be happy with this. Say your name so the interviewer will identify you with it.

Sit in the seat offered. If it is left up to you, sit in a seat beside or across from the interviewer so they will benefit from your use of body language. Try to determine how close the person is comfortable with you being near them. This is often obvious because of the arrangement of the furniture.

Try to avoid unacceptable body language. If you cross your arms across your chest, the interviewer will think you are being defensive. If you rub your nose, you might be seen as being dishonest. If you put your hands in your pockets, you may be judged as someone who is ill-at-ease or even someone with something to hide. Above all, maintain eye to eye contact. These are types of body language you can easily get away from.

There is much to be learned about the body language for a job interview. There are many websites to find more information on the use of body language. Forbes has one such page The Power Of Body Language In The Workplace (forbes.com). The Wall Street Journal devotes a webpage to it as well https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-your-body-language-can-tell-people-youre-a-leaderor-not-1475460480.

The more you know about body language, the closer you are to getting that job in the career that you are passionate about.