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

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...