Barack Obama has clearly had an advantage when it comes to that magical quality known as charisma. President Obama fills football stadiums just like a rock star. After meeting him, even the most seasoned political reporters have reported that he is special, the heir to charismatic predecessors like John F. Kennedy.
From time to time a public figure emerges endowed with a personal magnetism which makes it world famous. This is charisma, that rare gift reserved almost exclusively for great actors, singers or athletes.
However, it is quite rare to find charisma in a politician. When a charismatic person like Obama speaks, he is able to turn a room full of strangers into a community rich in shared experiences and opinions.
Charismatic leaders and their followers are interdependent, nurturing and energizing others. The transformational leader gives hope to his audience and makes them believe that, together, they can create a better future. Winston Churchill was a charismatic leader, in this sense, as were Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Like Obama, his rhetoric was laced with optimism.
In Obama, we see an exceptionally strong character and good temperament. But this is not enough to be a good president of the United States. The ability to get results is essential in a president, especially in these challenging times. His extraordinary ability to inspire would empower Obama to offer solutions to the enormous variety of problems that exist both at home and abroad.
In this sense, a president with charisma, good character and, of course, solid political ideas, would be an invaluable national resource.
An inspiring president could restore a sense of unity in a country. A charismatic leader could break the prevailing orthodoxy that the nation is permanently divided into 2 camps (the conservative and the progressive) and build a broader sense of community, with a compelling new vision.
He or she could persuade the alienated to put aside their cynicism, participate in public life, and sacrifice for their country.
Charisma is certainly not everything. A great leader has many qualities, character, judgment, experience… Charisma is more than good public speaking and an attractive face. However, it is a powerful tool for the leader to use to repair and inspire a country.
