Few couples in the Bible look less attractive than King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Their ugly leadership style becomes especially clear toward the end of 1 Kings. Because they lacked almost entirely in leadership charisma, they had to resort to manipulation and cunning to get what they wanted.
Charisma is defined as a kind of magnetic personal attractiveness that draws others to a leader and makes them feel better in that leader's presence. Effective leaders do well to develop a certain amount of charisma.
In Greek, the word charisma means "gift." God gives every person a certain measure of charisma. That's because he has given every person gifts that they may pass on to others. Charismatic people, then, are turned toward others. Why did Ahab and Jezebel show no charisma at all?
1. They selfishly wanted to build their own kingdom (22:8).
1 Kings 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
2. They used people to get ahead; everyone was expendable (19:2).
1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
3. They worried about their image and lived in deception (21:8-13).
1 Kings 21:8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
4. They sulked and grew angry whenever they didn't get their way (21:4).
1 Kings 21:4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
5. They pretended to be someone they were not (21:25-27).
1 Kings 21:25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
26 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
6. They abused the authority that had been entrusted to them (21:16-19).
1 Kings 21:16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
17 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.
19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
Ahab and Jezebel felt no incentive to develop charisma, because their position allowed them to use people. Why should they need to inspire others to work with them? Was their word not law? Leaders should avoid this attitude at all costs.
Obstacles on the path to charisma
To develop charisma, leaders should pay attention to others. Leaders who think of others and their concerns before thinking of themselves quickly develop charisma. How would you rate your own charisma as a leader? Are other people naturally drawn to you? Are you liked? The following hurdles can be considered on the path to developing charisma:
No one wants to follow a leader who thinks they are better than everyone else. Arrogant leaders lose the respect of others.
When a leader is insecure about themselves, others will be too. Only secure leaders can create a secure atmosphere.
When people never know what to expect from a leader, they stop expecting anything at all. Eventually, they won't even approach the leader anymore.
People can tell when a leader is only using them to reach their own goal. No healthy person stays long in such an unhealthy environment.
People respect the desire for excellence, but despise unrealistic expectations. No employee wants to feel that the project matters more than they do.
People don't want to be comforted by someone who sees a cloud behind every silver lining. Pessimistic leaders drive their followers away.