Jim Collins’ books have shed a lot of light for me with regards to leadership and building a lasting great company. There were some chapters in there about leadership and how visionary leaders come and go and how charisma has little to do with building a lasting great company.
It just so happens that I consider my leadership style to be such – charismatic and visionary. Some of my mentors tell me the same. The first investors I presented to also thought the same thing. It even came to a point that they asked the question “So what if you get hit by a bus and you die… what happens to the company?”
In my mind, being a Charismatic, Visionary Leader was starting to become a negative. Perhaps this entry is to help remind me that it isn’t. I thought about it and reflected on what’s happening at SEO Hacker and here are some of my insights.
Let’s first clarify my idea of a Charismatic, Visionary Leader (CVL)
Someone who can influence people to follow him and carry on whatever mission he is embarking on as he explains the purpose and vision to them. He is someone who can win others to his cause and live up to his claims and work harder than any single individual in the team.
He is able to stick to the three E’s of leadership and has an obvious number of followers
So let’s move forward with how a Charismatic, visionary leader makes it easier to build a lasting great company.
Charismatic, Visionary Leadership, Paves the Way
Let’s face it – a person with charisma is easy to fall for in sales. Whether the person is selling snake-oil or he’s selling gold, you just can’t help but admire the charisma of a person who is ‘full of it’. And I’m saying this in all honesty and positivity. Charisma is a huge asset for a salesperson and what better way to win the hearts and minds of your followers than to be able to sell your vision to them each and every time?
A charismatic leader is able to pour out his vision to his followers in the most effective way. This drives and inspires them to do more, do better and become whatever the purpose of their profession calls them to be.
Charismatic, Visionary Leadership Shapes the company DNA
Whether we like it or not, a charismatic, visionary leader is someone who is able to most powerfully influence the company DNA. Because you are able to share and pour out your vision to others and win them to your cause, you are able to shape the personality of the company. The DNA. What makes everything tick.
I’ve seen it happen in companies again and again and again. Not the least of which in SEO Hacker.
Charismatic, Visionary Leadership is the Seed of the Team Culture
Everyone agrees that team culture is one of the most important things in a company. When you create an environment for the team to reveal who it really is and it begins to influence the way things work and captivate new hires – that is a powerful thing.
Being able to win others and pour out your vision effectively to the team influences them towards you and how you work, think, talk, deal with clients and solve problems. This is a contagious effect and it will spread out to the other individuals in the team – creating a team culture that is rooted in who you are as a CVL.
Note to myself: It is simply so much easier to build a team, and hence, build a company with a charismatic, visionary leader.