Is it possible to be a good leader without being charismatic? I’m the highest performer on my team, but I have autism, and freeze up during in-person meetings, although I’m very comfortable on Slack or email.
I’ve been told I have a blank expression and I should smile more, but I don’t think you can learn to be charismatic. Is there hope for me to move up?
First of all, congratulations on your high performance. It’s hard enough to be successful under the best of circumstances, and when you add additional challenges, such as some of those that come with autism, to be a top performer says a lot about you.
Charisma is in the eye of the beholder and frankly a little overrated in most roles. Many studies have shown that big personality leaders aren’t necessarily more successful than those with a more humble approach.
People will respect you for how you perform yourself, how you treat others and how you handle the challenges that may be unique for you.
Good communication skills are critical for effective leadership, however, and if those are challenges, there are strategies you may be able to learn to help you improve.
Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Hear Greg Wed. at 9:35 a.m. on iHeartRadio 710 WOR with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. Email: GoToGreg@NYPost.com. Follow: GoToGreg.com and on Twitter: @GregGiangrande
