One Minute Pause no 16

Take a moment to think of the people who you know with charisma.

Maybe it’s someone at work, or a celebrity, or one of your mates who always seem to be driving the next exciting day out.

Got a picture in your mind of the type of person I’m talking about?

Charisma is the magnetic quality of personality that makes you want to listen to people, adopt their ideas, in some cases even want to be like them.

I think it is definitely the X factor of leadership.

It would be a rare thing indeed for a successful leader to not have charisma.

When I run presentation skills workshops, there are usually 6 people in the group.

More often than not, one of the six will demonstrate more natural charisma than the rest.

S/he will have people’s full attention. They will present in an entertaining way. The time will fly by.

Over the years, watching many people make presentations has allowed me to develop a list of the common traits of charisma.

I think there are 3 main contributing elements to being charismatic.

It is possible to be born with most, or all of the elements.

But if you think your charisma may need a ’spit and polish’, I think it is possible to do so by focusing on the following 3 most important areas:

1. Charismatic people have a clear purpose.

People with charisma know where they are heading, what their viewpoint is on topics of interest and demonstrate very clearly to others the path to achievement or success.

You can do the same by always knowing your numbers, your plan and the next steps.

It only takes a few minutes at the start of each day to develop this clarity.

2. Charismatic people have confidence

It is one thing to have a clear purpose - it is another to have the utmost trust in yourself and lead from the front.

Charismatic people have a strong belief in what they are doing, and keep a cool head about it - even when under pressure.

You can do the same with well thought-out projects and proposals that you literally know backwards.

Prior to releasing it, or presenting it, make sure you have thought about the worst questions, or the worst case scenario, and be thoroughly prepared with strong, definitive answers.

3. Charismatic people have expertise

I have never met a charismatic person who wasn’t supremely knowledgeable in their area of expertise.

People with charisma are often the “go-to” people.

They build up a reputation of knowing how things work and how everything fits together.

If you become the expert at what you do, however small, you are fulfilling this important element of charisma.

There are other qualities that make people charismatic.

But these three, when learnt effectively, are the surest building blocks to being charismatic.

If you have others, please post a comment.

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