Charisma in Leadership—Teaching, Technology, and Ethics

Charisma is one of the most compelling and complex aspects of leadership, blending science, practice, and personality into a topic that consistently engages students and practitioners alike. In an interview with George Banks, Editor in Chief of The Leadership Quarterly, and Chair of the Department of Management and Co-chair of the Center for Leadership Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he offered a detailed look at how he integrates charisma into his leadership education curriculum while addressing its ethical dimensions and leveraging cutting-edge technology.

Charisma in the Classroom 

"My students’ favorite topic is probably charisma," Banks begins. "It’s something that’s quite popular in the academic literature, but it remains equally popular in the practitioner space." He points to its real-world relevance, particularly in contexts like political campaigns: "We’re watching politicians try to woo voters, be charismatic, and catchy, and it’s something that I think is typically hard for people to define and articulate." 

Banks also delves into the darker side of charisma. "You could use your charisma, but not necessarily to promote good intentions for stakeholders," he explains. "That’s why we enjoy talking about ethical leadership and how that needs to complement charisma to balance consideration for different stakeholder groups."

From Speeches to Virtual Reality—A Hands-On Approach 

To teach charisma effectively, Banks employs innovative techniques that vary by audience. "With undergrads, we’ve had them write speeches, score them for charisma, revise them, and then upload them into virtual reality headsets to practice delivering them," he shares. This process offers students both a theoretical and practical grasp of the concept. 

For MBA students, the experience is even more immersive. "We start with readings, formal lectures, and real-world examples of charismatic leaders," Banks says. "Then, they work in groups to write speeches, deliver them, receive feedback, and revise. We even record their meetings related to the university’s strategic plan, where they’re encouraged to use their charisma to influence outcomes." 

For smaller, specialized groups like honors students, Banks incorporates VR tools that give detailed feedback on verbal and nonverbal communication. "The students love it," he notes. "The VR headsets give them behavioral feedback on their speaking cadence, use of filler words, and even eye contact. It’s incredibly detailed and helps them refine both verbal and nonverbal communication."

Ethics and the Science Behind Charisma 

While charisma is captivating, Banks is equally focused on its ethical implications. "We’re not just teaching students to be charismatic for the sake of influence," he explains. "We’re asking them to consider how their use of charisma impacts others and aligns with ethical leadership." 

He highlights how advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have expanded his ability to analyze charisma. "We use AI tools like GPT-4 or Llama 3 for Bayesian classification tasks," Banks explains. "The AI does really well at detecting things like metaphors or similes in speeches, which are key components of charismatic leadership tactics." 

The AI also enables deeper exploration of the intersection between charisma and destructive leadership. "For example, if I say something like, ‘I’m the king of the castle,’ it could be scored as a charismatic tactic because it’s a simile, but it could also be seen as destructive because it’s self-praise and narcissistic," Banks explains. "It’s fascinating to see how these behaviors can co-occur and how we, as researchers, interpret them."

Leadership Development for a Digital Age 

Looking to the future, Banks sees even more potential for innovation in leadership education. "We’re working on developing these methods for leaders in virtual meetings right now," he shares. "It’s not just about teaching charisma but understanding how it evolves and adapts in different settings." 

Ultimately, charisma is just one part of a broader leadership education that equips students to influence effectively and responsibly. "Leadership is not a static skill," Banks concludes. "It’s dynamic, and charisma is one of those traits that, when balanced with ethics, can truly transform how leaders engage with their teams and stakeholders."