How to be a charismatic CEO

Gandhi was a charismatic and revolutionary but until past few decades little was known about him outside India. Similarly De Gaulle inspired defeated France but he left little for his successors.

Great leader always leave an adaptive organization or a structure that is flexible enough to adapt with the changing times.

Rockefeller and Ford created mammoth business empires but they were unable to sustain it. Great leaders are like prophets of the past whose vision lives on despite their demise centuries ago.

Since time immemorial the goal of successful organization has been measured in profit alone, however in the past few decades individual workers development has been become core value of successful business to educate and train workers to achieve innovation and productivity in the fast changing world.

In the world of smart phones and tablets customers demand innovation that requires a creative workforce to generate fresh idea and products in repeated cycles. More than ever businesses today require not just able CEO, but a charismatic CEO who constantly inspires his followers to focus on organization vision.

CEO’s often ask themselves; whether their employees are aware of the challenges that are being faced by their companies. Most of the time employees have no idea about company direction or vision.

Being the brain of the company, a CEO needs to share his vision with the workforce; especially with his immediate team leaders. Day to day operations are part of the daily work; and routine tasks create boredom. People like challenges and things greater than themselves.

Everyman is hero of his life and this drives us all. This is what Hollywood depicts in its blockbuster movies, but all challenges must be realistic rather than only wishful thinking.

A CEO should not come up with dizzy dreams and somehow believe that all dreams are achievable by mere dreaming. Some dreams are achievable and others are destined to remain dream due to various reasons; such as fuzzy vision, lack of skilled workers, and lack of resources or technology.

Success is a journey not an end; and success comes in small steps in one giant leap.

A Charismatic CEO’s should have not only the ability to attract and retain top talent but reward and recognize the top performers.

To cite a few well known cases, the legendary Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple) took Apple from a state of lethargy to number one position and left behind a well trained successor; who is leading Apple successfully in his absence.

The pioneer of the assembly line manufacturing, Henry Ford, is another example of a charismatic CEO, who revolutionized the way people work in factories. Jack Welch of GE (General Electric) is another stellar example of charismatic CEO’s who was a transforming agent for GE. In all these examples the CEO charisma worked to create successful and profitable organization.

A charismatic leader is able to create a clear mindset, higher values and motivating his workers into action. Leaders become great not because of enormous wealth, or unlimited power; but they are great because they are articulate, inspiring and able to energize their followers, who put their heart and minds into his grand vision. And this is what makes a charismatic CEO.  

Raj Singh is the CEO of Safety@Work, a Singapore based Safety Consultancy involved in safety issues in Oil & Gas industries
Email Raj at: rsingh@safetyatwork.com.sg