Some are born with it, others acquire it, but everyone wants it. Charisma is a magnatic force that enables people to capture and hold the spotlight. What is this multifaceted quality made up of?
UNDOUBTEDLY, you have seen them — those special individuals whose mere presence can electrify an entire roomful of people. They exude confidence that commands attention. Others gravitate toward them, seemingly entranced by every word they say. Perhaps, you have become fascinated by such a person and find it difficult to identify what causes this individual to have a magical effect on you. Maybe, you believe this person was born with an ability to attract, as one is born with blue eyes or a large born structure. We know this is not true.
What is this magnetic force that enables some people to capture and to hold the spotlight? It is ‘charisma’ — that “mysterious something” that we can instantly identify in some people.
Throughout history, some people have been regarded as charismatic. Charisma enhances the stature of an established leader or strengthens the appeal of a challenger. Charismatic people turn an audience into followers, often making their own rules and challenging the status quo: Vladimir Lenin guided the overthrow of federal monarchy in Russia, in 1917; Martin Luther King Jr. galvanized the civil rights movement in the United States; and through her work ministering to the poor, Mother Teresa asked the world to confront its stunning poverty.
Charisma was originally defined by the Greeks as a divine gift, such as the power to heal or to prophesy. It was redefined by the German economist and sociologist Max Weber, who wrote that charisma is “a certain quality of an individual personality by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers of qualities”.
In his voluminous writings on the subject, Weber broadened the concept of charisma to include creative or innovative personalities who gather followings, although they do not claim to possess divine grace. Today, the term charisma has a more general meaning because of its liberal use by sociologists, social scientists and psychologists. Its many labels include personal magnetism, charm, star quality and winning personality.
To Weber, charisma was a personal quality of attraction and psychological power capable of inspiring deep political loyalty in large number of people. Thus, a charismatic leader won sway over his followers for entirely personal reasons, rather than because of any specific policies he espoused, or because he was in some way a ‘legitimate’ ruler, perhaps by virtue of traditional inheritance. It has become somewhat overworked, with almost any political leader, who can project a pleasing personality, being credited with this very rare capacity to demand unswerving support simply because of his own character.
Politically, the great problem with authority is what Weber indicated as the ‘routineization of charisma’. That is, one dynamic leader may build a state or party around his own qualities, but after him, who should command and why should the inheritor be obeyed? It seems that charismatic institutions can only be long-lived if there are also pragmatic or traditional reasons for support, or if these can be developed.
Charisma is a multifaceted phenomenon. In public figures it takes many forms, each dependent upon somewhat different components. We have loved political leaders who offered us hope in times of great social need during the depression. We have been moved by and have witnessed vast societal changes, occurring as a result of the passionate convictions and unrelenting efforts of charismatic people committed to a cause. We have seen wholehearted devotion, blind fanatical trust and unconditional faith given to such destructive leader as Adolph Hitler.
Often, the charismatic power of political leaders is partially dependent upon factors outside themselves. Roosevelt, Mussolini and Hitler all came to power after periods of war, inflation, and/or depression. People’s dissatisfaction with the way things were and their readiness for social change made them susceptible to the persuasions of leaders who they believed had “the answer”. Spiritual leaders, to an extent, are dependent upon the needs of their followers in order to be perceived as charismatic. Those individuals who effectively use their ability to feed the human spirit are capable of creating an aura that has strong influence upon their followers. On the other side, superstars fulfil needs other than those met by political and spiritual leaders, such as the desire for stimulation, for enjoyment, for diversion and for beauty.
The man of charisma combines inherent qualities of leadership with an external ambience of authority which is almost ‘divine’. The holists dismiss the man of charisma as sociological fiction and the concept of charisma as sociologically sterile. It is the structural situation of the group that determines what type of symbols are more effective than others and, hence, what type of leader is needed. Charisma is largely a group function, not an individual trait. While it is true that our own psychic requirements create an environment in which a charismatic leader or star can flourish, certain qualities of personality are necessary to project a magnetic image. Were this not true, we would find that everyone who professes to have a mission, a calling, a solution that would benefit us, or who appears to be able to fulfil us in some way would be charismatic.
Although, not all charismatic leaders possess exactly the same combination of qualities, there appear to be some that are common. Though numerous people have one or more of these attributes, charismatic individuals tend to possess them in extraordinary amounts — high energy level, sustained vitality, courage, composure (especially when under stress), strong sense of self, clear direction and movement toward one’s goals, and determination to succeed.
The paradox is that while we like to look up to, respect, admire and perhaps be in awe of charismatic individuals, we are most strongly attracted to them when we can, at the same time, relate to and identify with them as human beings. We want to feel that they are, in some way, ordinary people just like us. Because recognizing someone as charismatic is an emotional reaction rather than an intellectual decision, we respond intensely to individuals who touch our innermost emotional selves. For this reason, many qualities which may be viewed as being negative can actually enhance a person’s charisma.
We sympathize with individuals who have subtle flaws, and our compassion is aroused by those who have obvious defects. Vulnerablities help us to feel the realness of those who otherwise might seem to be remote or too perfect. And personal struggles to overcome emotional and physical handicaps and adversities can add greatly to their charisma, as can a dramatic brush with death. FDR’s wheelchair, JFK’s back problems, Winston Churchill’s lisp, Marilyn Monroe’s spicy fragility and Jimmy Durante’s tremendous nose all served as charisma-boosting aids. A variety of other characteristics can also increase the likelihood of a person projecting charisma. An accent or other foreignism — almost anything that is exotic or mysterious — intrigues us. And an aura of power, vast wealth or fame can fuel one’s perception of charisma as can talent, exceptional intellect, or great beauty. We are impressed by those who possess these attributes and, the stronger and more developed they become, the greater is the attractiveness of the individual.
What is the mystique that enchants people? Research psychologists have found that when we experience an immediate, intense attraction to someone, our excitement causes our bodies to go through a chain of chemical reactions that makes our hearts and breathing speed up. We feel nervously excited and full of anticipation. The chemicals that cause these reactions continue to circulate in our bodies stimulating our nervous systems even further, intensifying and perpetuating our original excitement. We can learn how to trigger in others this bodily chemical reaction that can transform their momentary interest in us to fascination with us. Strong pleasurable stimulation of our senses can create the original excitement that causes this entire physiological process to begin. It is possible that we may be able to create the magic of immediate charismatic attraction by evolving to a point where we are flooding people’s senses with electrifying, pleasure-producing signals.
Charisma is a magnetic attraction created by a delicate balance of these potent signals, broadcast by one person and received subconsciously by another. However, we can attract on different levels — intellectual, emotional, or physical. Those signals are most effective when they are the result of one’s total essence — how one stands and moves, grooms and dresses, expresses oneself, thinks, believes, feels, and behaves.
At its best, charisma is a blend of specific attitudinal, behavioural, personal, physical, and social skills. As with all skills, it can be improved with practice. We can train ourselves to be charismatic, as surely as we can learn to type, to use the computer, or to play tennis. While certain people may find it easier than others to masters these skills, with perseverance anyone can greatly improve his or her ability to attract people and to win their continuing interest and esteem.
Can you ever hope to posses strong personal magnetism without the help of such attributes? Yes, because, fortunately, one’s ability to be charismatic is not solely dependent upon one’s social position, talents, IQ and accomplishments. Charisma can be generated by developing the potential that is within each of us. Recognizing it in its various forms is the first step to harnessing its power.
Pseudo-charisma: Actors, politicians, professional speakers, salespeople and others, whose success depends upon winning us over learn to “turn on the charm” when it is needed. Often, they acquire the ability to make us trust them and to believe in them. These individuals know that the way they look, talk, move and even think, determine the strength of their impact on us. They use charisma as a tool to help them accomplish specific desired ends. Pseudo-charisma is also used by people in everyday situations to impress the boss, to attract the opposite sex, or to get others to follow their wishes. Sometimes, we can sense that such a person’s “charisma” is nothing more than a carefully constructed image of themselves. This illusion can be effective — at least temporarily.
Real situation charisma: Sometimes, people spontaneously become turned on by what they are doing or by something that is happening at that moment. When this occurs, to an individual who is performing on stage, for example, he or she goes with the flow and gets caught up in the excitement of a natural high. But such a person is not always able to generate this stimulating energy in other situations. Many people in the entertainment industry are confident when onstage, but are shy when offstage. In the same way, a business person can be commanding at meetings but be timid when in front of his wife. Or, one can be dull when at work but become stimulating when excitedly talking about a pet topic or when participating in a favourite pastime.
Real situation charisma is the result of feeling exceptionally good about oneself in a particular situation. We experience it when we feel accepted and appreciated, as when we are in love, are promoted, or do something of which we are especially proud. At these times, our self-esteem is increased and it affects how we are perceived by others. Those who possess real situational charisma, spontaneously and energetically, release their good feelings in some situations, but are unable to reproduce and share them at will.
Genuine sustained charisma: People who possess genuine sustained charisma are able to maintain an excitement about themselves that lasts far beyond their initial, momentary, favourable impact on others, and beyond the stimulation of temporary situations. Their charisma seems to be an intrinsic part of who they are. These individuals know how to produce and reproduce charisma. They have mastered the magic — and so can you.
At one time or another, we have all experienced moments of being at one with ourselves and the world. We have been aware of a positive glow about ourselves that coloured our thoughts and enhanced how we felt and behaved. At those times, we attracted others more readily than usual. How charismatic we are depends partly upon the length of time we experience these good feelings, their degree of intensity, and how free we are to share them with others.
We are dull and boring only when we are too inhibited or too afraid to share our real selves with others. We erect psychological barriers which block the flow of our natural charisma — that distinctive part of our personality that others might find to be the most fascinating. Charisma is felt deep within us. It can help us to attract people when we learn how to develop it and see it free.
Why do so many of us have difficulty releasing our charisma? Unfortunately, as we grow up, we are often taught to contain and hide it from others. We are conditioned when we are told: “Don’t touch”, “Act like a grown up,” and admonished to keep our emotions in check. We further imprison our natural potential for charisma by building elaborate defence networks to protect us from life’s little discomfort. Conversely, some people “have it” as children but seem to “lose it” on their way to adulthood.
Some are born with it, others acquire it, but everyone wants it. Charisma is a magnatic force that enables people to capture and hold the spotlight. What is this multifaceted quality made up of? 
