Charismatic leadership - Training leadership using mind tools

There are two important areas to charismatic leadership that are often ignored – Conflict Resolution and Active Listening. Both of these areas are skills that a leader needs to develop. They are not necessarily skills that a leader is born equipped with. And the good news is that both these skills can be developed using the power of one’s mind through laws of attraction. Developing Conflict Resolution skills involves firstly assessing the scene of conflict. Active Listening lends itself to being a tool which will ensure that all parties are heard and that the leader understands the other person’s perceptions. This is an invaluable skill in a leader. How well the leader listens will determine his/her effectiveness in his work. By learning to listen well, you will increase productivity, in addition to enhancing the scope of your influence that you can exert in conflicting situations. This is where a good leader needs high levels of self-awareness. When you understand in depth your strengths and weaknesses which makes part of your communication skills, you evolve towards making communications which leave a good impression on others. Active listening is making a very conscious effort to hear not just the words that the other person is saying, but also understanding the complete message being transmitted, including underlying currents, suggestions and attitudes. When you are listening actively, there is no scope to become distracted - either by things around you or by forming counter arguments. Neither can you let boredom overtake you or let yourself gradually lose focus on what the other person is saying. The speaker should be in no doubt as to whether his words are being given the attention he is expecting. When a leader listens actively, he will be able to acknowledge that there is a genuine conflict which needs to be resolved. Without this acknowledgement, conflict resolution is simply impossible. This agreement to the existence of a problem leads to brainstorming for possible solutions. Once there are a number of feasible solutions, the leader will use his negotiating skills to arrive at a mutually satisfactory one. Quick conflict resolution is necessary as lack of it can be destructive to teamwork. A leader knows this and applies mind tools to sort out a situation as soon as it arises. The leader remains calm and patient throughout and above all he/she shows forth respect to the other person. The leader who has harnessed his/her mind power knows how to steer the situation keeping it courteous and non-confrontational and always emphasizing on the issues and not on individuals. When a leader is calm, patient and courteous, others around him or her, on account of the law of attraction will also exhibit the same virtues. However, one needs to remember that charismatic leadership takes time and its fruits are not visible overnight. The leader needs to be consistent in creating positive thoughts and then acting upon them. Most successful leaders have an experience of using mind power, knowingly or unknowingly, behind the inspired leadership that is shown forth to the world.