It’s not a gene

Charisma is always on the list of “Top 5 Most Wanted” leadership skills that clients give us, particularly the more introvert among us.  Their corollary belief is usually that they don’t have the gene, that “magic” something that belongs to the lucky few since birth.

As Ms. Cabane puts it, “Charisma gets people to like you, trust you, and want to be led by you.  It can determine whether you are seen as a follower or a leader, whether your ideas get adopted, and how effectively your projects are implemented….It makes people want to do what you want them to do.”

She makes the point that you don’t have to be naturally outgoing, you don’t have to be physically attractive, and you won’t have to change your personality. No matter where you’re starting from, you can significantly increase your personal charisma and reap the rewards both in business and in daily life.

We agree wholeheartedly and it reflects one of our core beliefs at the heart of all our work with clients:  Being more charismatic doesn’t mean transforming your fundamental personality.  It’s about learning how to close the gap between your best, passionate, authentic self and how you express that and connect to the people who surround you.

In her book, Ms. Cabane offers a collection of techniques focused on helping you develop what she refers to as the three core elements of charismatic behavior:  presence, power, and warmth.

The Charisma myth is one of our favorite easy reads with tools from a collection of disciplines—self-management of emotional states, mindfulness practices for presence, some of the fundamental behavioral tools of neurolinguistic programming—that effectively integrates stories and research with practical techniques.

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