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FeedCharm School
How the world's power players learned to harness the power of charisma.
How the world's power players learned to harness the power of charisma.
We know it when we see it. More often, we feel it when we hear it. It's that special something that inspires us, moves us into action and alliance and stands out from the crowd. John F. Kennedy had loads of it, as the world discovered when he addressed the 1960 Democratic National Convention with the words, "We stand at the edge of a new frontier." Martin Luther King Jr. had it when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and repeated four iconic words that would forever represent the eternal quest for human equality: "I have a dream." And more recently, Barack Obama used his rock-star charisma to inspire dreams of uniting the global community and ushering in a new context of diplomacy and collaboration. Even the darker side of history is full of charismatic leaders who won allegiance at the expense of the most fundamental values of humanity, which, if nothing else, attests to the sheer power of charisma as a means of moving and influencing others.
When we see icons of excellence, regardless of their profession, it's natural to wonder how those people do what they do and how we can emulate that level of ability. One thing is clear: For true excellence, there are no shortcuts. But given an awareness of the specific attributes of charisma and an understanding that they can be learned and practiced, excellence in front of an audience is available to anyone willing to do the work.
While the study of charisma may not explicitly appear in the curricula of business schools and advanced leadership symposiums, it is an inseparable component of the leadership equation, and those who aspire to effectiveness need to understand the basics. No doubt, charisma is an inexact science, an elusive blending of personality and an understanding of human dynamics, but there are elements in common to all who radiate magnetism.
First, charismatic leaders and speakers are visionary. They perceive the nature and significance of events, often before they occur, down to the smallest nuance. They look at a situation and have a clear and credible notion of how it will play out the future, which they can then communicate with compelling clarity.
Every world leader mentioned above (and many who aren't) exhibited tremendous energy with their words and demeanor as they stood before an audience. With vigor and commitment to the message, their delivery contained significant emotion and conviction.
Truly authoritative leaders strive to rise above the ordinary with a sense of confidence that they can, and will, make a difference. Belief is a fundamental tenet of leadership; it is the goal of all speeches and platforms, and charismatic leaders know how to foster it.
They have a way of hammering points home in a clear and structured way that requires no sacrifice in passion. They understand the power of carefully chosen words "” that not only what they say, but how they say it, can change the course of events and, in some cases, world history. Their presentations are carefully crafted, yet they come across as spontaneous and from the heart.
It is a universal law of human interaction that confidence begets confidence. Every word, every movement, is imbued with confidence, not just in their own abilities but in the messages themselves. Great leaders know they are right. And the manner in which they communicate leaves no doubt that this is the case. Great, charismatic personalities understand which gestures, postures and facial expressions to use to generate a positive response from an audience. The potential of nonverbal communication to empower words is huge, and effective leaders and speakers learn it and practice it.
All great artists and athletes had mentors and coaches along the journey to the top of their profession, and the same is absolutely true of the great leaders and speakers who model charismatic excellence. Business folk in particular "” managers, executives and rainmakers who aspire to increase their level of charisma and overall personal magnetism have to understand you don't just push the charm button and get your way. Successfully generating and linking others' positive emotions to your own objectives "” use your own ethical compass here "” requires a heightened level of self-awareness and observation of human nature along with the trial-and-error results that can come only from interacting with as many people as possible. The feedback you get from others is your homework. Do people seek your company or reject it? Do others resist your ideas or see the light when you make your case? You don't have to be a presidential candidate, a rock star or a superstar athlete to draw others to you. Just be authentically you, have others' best interests at heart, speak simply and clearly and know what you're talking about. The passion and conviction will follow.
Students of the art of communication continually seek to understand the fundamental characteristics of powerful leaders and how to transfer those attributes and skills to players in all fields. In this competitive world, charisma is no longer a fringe benefit of intellectual capital. It's the ante into the game itself.
