“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” – Lao Tsu

It can make us all feel good when someone stands up with power and charisma, is a gifted orator who tells us where he is taking us, and how he's going to turn his vision to reality. We see this all the time in politics - the charismatic leader who trumps all in the polls - think Obama, Clinton.

But it takes a lot more than charisma to make a great leader. Sure, a charismatic leader can inspire people to do their best. But when that leader goes (or is unable to deliver on the promise), the group tends to fail because everything relied on the leader, not the group. 

A strong organisation needs staff who have self-belief, are empowered, and self-reliant. Charisma alone won't deliver. 

Those leaders who engender staff reliance on their leaders' ability alone to steer the ship through, are setting the organisation up for failure. When they leave, there is a yawning chasm. Staff feel disempowered because their identity and sense of self-worth relied on the CEO rather than themselves and the group dynamic fails.

What makes an effective leader is the ability to empower through delegation, to inspire through example, and to communicate the vision and direction for all to follow. Achieving this can be through coaching, directing, supporting and delegating - facilitating, rather than controlling. 

Lao Tsu had it right - when you can get to that stage of having people achieve what you want, and saying they did it themselves, you are a leader.