Cultivating Charisma

We know certain people seem personally magnetic. We say they are charismatic, yet charisma itself is hard to quantify. A recent New York Times article cites Olivia Fox Cabane, author of the book The Charisma Myth, who boils charismatic behavior down to three pillars.

• Presence involves being in the moment. Those who are charismatic are capable of offering others their full attention.
• Power, in the interpersonal sense, is not about status but about self-confidence. Charismatic individuals believe their “skills and passions are valuable and interesting to others.”
• Warmth is the ability to radiate kindness and acceptance (It’s hard to fake, but picturing someone you genuinely care for can help you exude this quality).

If this sounds like a tough trifecta to cultivate, keep this in mind: “The most charismatic people you know on a personal level have generally achieved a high level of success in only one, or perhaps two, of these traits. A rare few, though, show a mastery of all three.”

If you're looking for a starting point to cultivate charisma, John Antonakis, a professor of organizational behavior at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, suggests storytelling. (Tweet it!)  The most magnetic people in a room, he says, are those who use anecdotes and analogies, embellishing points with facial gestures, energetic body language and vocal inflections. There is nothing like a good story, well told, to keep people engaged.

What traits do the most charismatic people you know share? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.
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