Is it possible to be a good leader without being charismatic? I’m the top performer on my team, but I’m autistic and I freeze up in in-person meetings, even though I’m very comfortable on Slack or email.

I’ve been told that I have a blank expression and that I should smile more, but I don’t think you can learn to be charismatic. Is there any hope for me to progress?

First of all, congratulations on your high performance. It’s hard enough to succeed under the best of circumstances, and when you add additional challenges, like some of those that come with autism, being a top achiever says a lot about you.

Charisma is in the eye of the beholder and frankly a little overrated in most roles. Many studies have shown that leaders with big personalities are not necessarily more successful than those with a more humble approach.

People will respect you for how you carry yourself, how you treat others, and how you handle challenges that may be unique to you.

However, good communication skills are essential to effective leadership, and if these are challenges, you may be able to learn strategies to help you improve.

Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a human resources director. Listen to Greg Wed. at 9:35 a.m. iHeartRadio 710 WOR with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. Email: [email protected]. Follow: GoToGreg.com and on Twitter: @GregGiangrande