What is Charisma?

We sometimes ponder about what makes other people so magnetic. We see someone, our friend for example, and then we start to wonder why other people like our friend so much. We think about how that friend of ours always gets to be the leader whom everyone follows willingly.We think about how that friend of ours has this ability to motivate people towards a cause and we say to ourselves “why can’t I do that?” We start asking others and all if not, most of their answers always end with the things called charisma.

So what’s charisma? How does one acquire it?–that is if it can be acquired. Truth to be told, it’s not something one can just grab immediately and while other people are bestowed with it, most of us aren’t.

Charisma is an art. And just like all arts, it must be studied and constantly practiced. The first step comes by knowing. When you examine it closely, charisma is a balance between two intensive qualities–strength and warmth. Strength refers to the ability to make things happen with the use of skills and willpower, while warmth would refer to the instinct that a person shares our feelings, interest and perceptions in life. It’s awfully hard to convey both without one overlapping the other. We sometimes portray our strength by wearing a firm countenance but it makes us seem unapproachable and less warm. Also, we may portray warmth by casually throwing smiles and doing courtesies but it can make us seem weak often times, subservient.

So what is one to do when both qualities are contradicting to each other?

Practice. Charisma may be a divine gift, God-given according to the Greeks but the power of focus, determination and willingness conquer all. Listen to what people have to say but determine to judge for yourself. Be considerate of the things you do, you cannot please everyone but you can motivate them to do what you believe is good for them. Don’t wear people out with your berating, instead of doing so talk to them in a constructive way. “Do onto others what you want others done onto you”. But before all of these, start with yourself. Learn how to respect and identify yourself–traits and attitudes–and change those which you think will hinder your development. Stand by your principles and always believe in virtue and in the end, charisma will belong to you. (Curated by Daryll Arcayan)

Sources: BrainPickings, ScienceDaily 

Image credit: www.dailymail.co.uk