Charisma Vs. Control: A Look At Both

Charisma Vs. Control: A Look At Both

Good leadership will look different for any individual you may talk to. Each person, has a particular style of leadership that they respond better to. Often times, leaders will lead based on their experiences be it good or bad.  At its core, leadership has to be built on some level of trust and respect. In today’s blog, I want to take a look at charismatic versus controlling leaders.

Charisma

The dictionary defines charisma as “compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others”. Charismatic leaders are born with a certain “charm” that comes naturally and they can lead anyone. These are the kind of leaders that people flock to or want to learn from. They have an ability to attract people and open doors. Our most recent example would be President Barack Obama. Despite being an African American male, he was able to lead the United States in a unified manner. In America, being a black male can be viewed as a liability especially when it pertains to many positions of power. He was the first black president but his charisma was undeniable.

Control

The dictionary defines control as “The power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events”. Leaders can find themselves leading under the veil of control or total dependency. In a control situation, subordinates find themselves totally dependent on the orders of the leader. They find it hard to think for themselves, take initiative, or even be independently productive. Leaders that utilize control, place their subordinates at a dangerous disadvantage. Good leadership seeks to inspire and cultivate not stifle and dictate.

The Correlation

Understanding these two concepts is almost like looking at the yin and yang ideology. Charisma and control both have attributes of each other. The major difference is finesse. A charismatic leader uses charm to have others submit to their will. They learn the needs or desires of their subordinates and they use them to their advantage. Controlling leaders use force or manipulation to disarm subordinates free will. They have no interest in the needs of their subordinates and they seek to further some agenda. However, if not careful a charismatic leader can become a controlling leader. The ability they have to “charm” can quickly turn into manipulation which is a control attribute. History has shown us such controlling leaders such as Adolf Hitler, and Fidel Castro. Hilter ultimately led the biggest genocide / extinction attempt of another race. Organizations must be mindful of the type of leaders they create and empower. In the end, subordinates should “want” to follow you and not be “forced” to follow your lead.