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What Makes People Charismatic, and How You Can Be, Too

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What Makes People Charismatic, and How You Can Be, Too

Simple tips to break through your social anxieties and make real, genuine connections with others.

The New York Times,

5 min read
4 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Journalist Bryan Clark aims to take the je ne sais quoi out of charisma.

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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • For Beginners
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

Pop quiz hotshot: Think of someone who oozes charisma. Maybe you’ll conjure images of suave James Bond, captivating Beyoncé, or confident Barack Obama. Now try to define what it means to be charismatic. That’s a tougher task. Charisma is an enigmatic quality. You know it when you see it, but what exactly is that “it” factor? Journalist Bryan Clark attempts to define charisma and explain how you can increase yours. 

Summary

Charisma is not an innate skill.

As a species, humans are naturally drawn to charismatic people — TV personalities like Oprah Winfrey, fictional characters like James Bond, or historical figures like Martin Luther King, for instance. But what exactly is charisma? It’s an enigmatic attribute that is difficult to define. 

Charisma has beguiled experts throughout the ages. The ancient Greeks described charisma as a “gift of grace,” believing that it was a divine trait bestowed on some but not all. However, charisma is a learned skill that you can strengthen with practice.

People who exhibit charisma radiate magnetism. 

Individuals who boast high levels of charisma have magnetic personalities — people are drawn to them, often without knowing why.

Your ability to gauge another person’s charisma likely developed for evolutionary reasons. During every interaction, your brain processes scores of data...

About the Author

Bryan Clark is a journalist who examines the intersection of technology and culture. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Medium, Business Insider, and HuffPost, among others.


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