Is charisma natural or can it be taught?
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Can charisma be taught or does it just come naturally?
I ask this question because there is often talk about people having the X factor or the fact that they just naturally have “it”. They have that thing. As somebody who works with individuals and organisations to explore how best to be dynamic, engaging and inspiring, this is a question that I am constantly asking my clients to think about and to observe in the people that they describe as charismatic. What is it about somebody that makes you feel drawn to them? What is it about their energy and their delivery that is captivating and compelling? These are the questions that I am particularly fascinated by when I think about helping clients to develop their skills as performers, presenters and persuaders.
Only about charm?
I recently looked up the definition of charisma just to be sure that I understood exactly what it meant. The definition I found was “Charisma is compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.” When I read that I thought well devotion to me feels religious. Is that what the power of charisma can do? Make people want to follow you and become devout around you? Wow! No wonder Evangelist preachers make so much money. Their profession is based on whipping up an excitement in people to the point where they become so frenzied that they believe that the “spirit" has taken over them.
I’d like to point out at this juncture that I am not questioning the validity of said cause and effect but simply marvelling at its charismatic power. I guess it’s the same for screaming fans at gigs where audience members get so excited that they cry and faint.
Where charisma lies: passion and conviction
The second definition said “scholars in sociology, political science, psychology and management reserve the term for a type of leadership seen as extraordinary. Within these fields the term charisma is used to describe a particular type of leader who uses value based, symbolic and emotion laden leader signalling”. Well that is all very prosaic isn’t it? I guess my interpretation of that is “somebody who is truly connected to their heart strings and means what they say”.
There is definitely something about truth that resonants with people when it’s told with an openness and delivered with passion and conviction. I guess charisma is to do with connecting your mind, your spirit and your body. Holistic and spiritual practitioners have known that connection is tantamount to fulfilment for centuries and I guess whenever there is a situation in life that requires us to dig deeper than the rules heading towards the connection between mind, body and spirit gives us something extra to think about. It also gives us something extra to believe in and work towards.
With that is mind, I believe that charisma can be taught. It just takes a bit of work.
In practice
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