Currently, the concept of “charisma” is interpreted as a special quality inherent in nature that distinguishes people from the general mass and attracts other people to them.
WHAT IS CHARISMA?
So, this is a special property due to which a person is assessed as gifted with special qualities and capable of exerting an effective influence on others. The concept of “charisma” originates from ancient Greek mythology - it means to attract attention to oneself. And the Charites are the ancient Greek goddesses of beauty, grace and grace.
The classic definition of charisma was given by the German sociologist M. Weber: “Charisma is the quality of a person that is recognized as extraordinary, thanks to which he is assessed as gifted with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically special powers and properties that are not available to other people.”
Among the charismatic personalities known to history are the founders of world religions - Buddha, Moses and Christ. Charismatics include the creators of trends within world religions - for example, Luther and Calvin. On the other hand, these are great statesmen and military leaders, such as Genghis Khan or Napoleon.
In the twentieth century, such figures included Hitler and Mussolini, Lenin and Trotsky, but also Gandhi and Martin Luther King. The property of charisma is relatively indifferent to the type of activity and its moral and ethical content: a charismatic leader can be a saint or a criminal with equal success.
The expression “He has charisma” means that a person makes a strong impression on others, they succumb to his charm and are ready to follow him.
From a psychological point of view, charisma is a combination of internal psychological qualities and external behavioral skills that allows you to influence people. These include high self-confidence, will, perseverance, determination, communication skills, eloquence, the ability to inspire and motivate others, incl. by example, the ability to set the right goals for yourself and others and achieve them, and many others. etc.
It is believed that charisma is given (or not) to a person by nature. However, some charismatic traits and skills can be developed through deliberate efforts (up to certain limits, determined by the innate set of qualities)
SIGNS OF CHARISMA
Emotional sensitivity
Charismatic people know how to not only infect with their emotions, but also subtly sense the initial emotional mood of other people, and also build interactions based on this mood. They quickly establish emotional contact with people, so that the other person very soon begins to feel like “the only person in the room,” and who doesn’t like being like that?
Emotional control
Charismatic people know how to control their emotions. The emotional state becomes their tool, they use it for their own purposes, which, however, does not make their emotions lose sincerity.
Ability to express your thoughts
Almost all charismatic people are good speakers, so they influence their interlocutors not only with the help of emotions, but also with the help of words.
Social sensitivity
Charismatic people have a keen sense of social interactions, they know how to listen and be on the same wavelength with their interlocutors. Therefore, such people are almost always tactful and attentive to their surroundings.
Self-control in communication
This is an important skill for charismatic people, allowing them to maintain composure and grace when communicating with any audience. They can establish emotional contact with any segment of the population.
DEVELOPMENT OF CHARISMA
So, up to this point we have talked about people who are naturally charismatic. But what if your charisma scores are at an average or low level? Is it possible to become more charismatic?
Before you infect with ideas and emotions, you need to get excited about them yourself
It is impossible to infect other people with something that you yourself are not sure about. Therefore, before infecting others with emotions and instilling self-confidence in them, you need to learn to experience all this yourself.
Stop suppressing your emotions. If something makes you happy, laugh heartily, without trying to suppress your giggles, and if it makes you sad, don’t make an indifferent face, experience the emotion in full.
Of course, not all emotions should be thrown out on your interlocutors; this is fraught with eccentricity, and it will not add popularity to you.
All people want to be brave and positive, not to doubt themselves and their abilities. If you experience these emotions and openly exude positivity and confidence, it will rub off on those around you.
Correct body language
Body position during a conversation, hand actions, facial expressions - all this greatly influences other people's perception of you. Even if your nervousness and uncertainty are not noticed by the consciousness of your interlocutor, the subconscious will certainly tell him whether it is worth communicating with you or not.
Fortunately, body language also works in the opposite direction: if you take a more relaxed posture, you begin to feel more relaxed, if you smile, your soul becomes a little lighter.
So watch the position and behavior of your body: do not slouch, even during the most intense conversation, do not fiddle with objects in your hands or wrinkle your fingers, try to smile more often and do not take closed poses.
Respect your interlocutor and listen to him
If the transfer of emotional state is not so easy to establish, then learning social sensitivity is much easier. All you need to do is stop considering yourself the most important person in the world and pay attention to your interlocutor.
Listening to other people is a real art. If you listen to another person and are interested in them, they begin to feel special. I don’t think it’s worth explaining how cool this feels.
REASONS FOR LACK OF CHARISMA
Sometimes it happens that a person strives to achieve something more in life, but all attempts either do not bring the desired result or end in failure. In this case, you need to pay attention to the presence of factors that interfere with the development of charismatic qualities. These include:
Fear of responsibility and lack of self-confidence. A leader who lacks self-confidence is unable to lead. The eternally doubting head of the family cannot unite his neighbors. A complex person is uninteresting in communication. This interferes with the manifestation of abilities (qualities, talents), thereby reducing the chances of changing your life. Moreover, the lives of others.
Inability to communicate. A charismatic person simply must communicate, since this is how he solves most of his problems and moves towards his goal. Fear of communication, including remote communication, awkwardness when necessary to ask for a favor or distribute responsibilities significantly reduces the chances of success.
No less detrimental to the development of charisma is the inability to listen to your interlocutor and excessive emotionality. Hyperreactions in the form of shouting or irritable tone have a repulsive effect on the interlocutor. In addition, the fuse of a “screamer” can quickly pass, but remain in the opponent’s soul for a long time. And emotional attacks are often thoughtless and spontaneous. It is difficult to achieve a response with slurred speech or incompetent statements.
Pessimistic mood. A person who does not see anything good in himself will not see anything good in others. Lack of faith in the future and reluctance to change prevent you from achieving meaningful results. A pessimist surrounds himself with people with the same attitude.
Therefore, it is very difficult for him to become a leader - he does not believe in it. Fear, worries, anxieties, internal complexes, and failures prevent you from standing out from the crowd. That is, a person’s inability to abstract from the past and realize the significance of the present and the prospects of the future.
Wrong prioritization. The desire to embrace the immensity does not always end in success. There are no absolutely talented people. Therefore, you should not rush to extremes and try to be the best in everything.
Excessive demands on yourself and others. Obsession with the perfect execution of a task of any complexity interferes with the overall result. By focusing on the little things, the main task is missed. In addition, this approach is very exhausting: both mentally and physically.
CHARISMATIC TEST
1. When I listen to cool music, my body automatically starts swaying to the beat.
2. I always try to dress fashionably.
5. When I laugh, everyone in the area can hear it.
4. I always pay attention to details.
5. When I talk on the phone, I express my feelings loudly and openly.
6. I'm always prepared.
7. Friends often tell me about their problems and ask for advice.
8. I use to-do lists.
9. I try to work on something until it's perfect.
10. People say I would make a good actor.
11. I make plans and follow them.
12. Sometimes I forget to put food back in the refrigerator.
13. I'm great at solving charades.
14. People usually think I'm younger than I really am.
15. At parties I'm always in the thick of people.
16. When I talk to close friends, I often touch them - hug them, pat them, put my hand on their shoulder or knee.
Calculate your points for answers 1,3,5,7,10,13,15,16. These are really important questions, the rest are simply padding the test to make it harder to consciously select answers.
And now the results.
From 0 to 37 points. 25% of people score in this range. You may be shy by nature or have become this way through a strict upbringing. Or maybe you just don't like attracting attention and prefer to spend time alone.
From 38 to 49 points. Most people fall into this category. You can be successful in communication, but not due to natural charm, but due to social skills and intelligence. You can also use nonverbal techniques, but you will have to use them consciously and not instinctively, as more charismatic people do.
From 50 to 60. People with such scores have natural magnetism. You are an extrovert and a natural leader, although you also have enemies around you because you stand out from the crowd. Sometimes you feel burdened with attention and responsibility for your followers.
From 61 to 72. You are one of the lucky 5% to score this high. You are one of those people whose presence makes the room brighter. You know how to emotionally charge other people and at the same time feel what they are experiencing.
The emotions of people with high scores are conveyed instinctively, even without the help of speech. This is confirmed by the experiment of the same Dr. Friedman.
After creating another test, similar in content to the one above, but consisting of 30 questions, Friedman conducted an experiment on the transfer of emotions by more and less charismatic people.
The scientist selected several dozen people who received high scores on the test, and several people with the lowest scores. He then asked all participants to fill out a questionnaire measuring their feelings at the moment: joy, sadness, sadness, anxiety.
Friedman then placed the high-scoring participants in separate rooms and paired them with two low-scoring participants. The participants simply sat together for 2 minutes, without talking or even looking at each other.
In just 2 minutes, without a single word, people with low scores adopted the mood of participants with high scores.
This is high emotional expressiveness, which helps people infect others with their ideas and moods even without words.
χάρισμα - “grace, gift”] - attribution or recognition to a person of a set of such properties, traits and qualities that ensure the admiration of her followers, their unconditional trust and unconditional faith in her unlimited capabilities.This is the endowment (in the opinion of a certain circle of adherents or followers) of a person (charismatic leader - politician, preacher, prophet), institution, symbol or set of actions with the properties of exclusivity, singularity, supernaturalism, infallibility or holiness. The quality of charisma is traditionally believed not so much to be acquired as to be bestowed by nature or “otherworldly”, mystical forces. Typically, charisma is understood as a person’s emotional and mental abilities, thanks to which he is assessed as gifted with special qualities and capable of exerting an effective influence on people. Some researchers also highlight the so-called sexual-mystical aspect of charisma. They believe that both of these components act together in a complementary manner and, moreover, seem to reinforce each other. Both the sexual and the mystical sensitize the state of consciousness in a special way, seriously contributing to the emergence of faith in the special qualities of their bearer.
Origin of the term
Word χάρισμα used in ancient Greek mythology to denote the ability to attract attention. The ancient Greek goddesses of beauty, grace and elegance were called Charites.
Religion
In the Old Testament
See Spirit of God (Ruach Yahweh)In the New Testament
In the early Christian tradition, charisma is the assistance sent by the Holy Spirit to chosen people (the “gift” of preaching, miracles, prophecy, etc.).
As a theological term, “charisma” is the 9 special gifts of the Holy Spirit poured out by him on the apostles in the Jerusalem Temple at the Feast of Pentecost. (See Descent of the Holy Spirit). Charisma, according to some, can be poured out on people even today during spiritual communication with the Holy Spirit (for example, during prayer).
These spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit are classified according to a threefold principle:
- the triple gifts of revelation - wisdom, knowledge and the ability to discern spirits;
- the triple gifts of power - faith, miracles and healing;
- triple gifts of speech - prophecy, glossolalia and interpretation of tongues. (The last group of gifts is considered the most common.)
Charismatics are Christians who believe in acquiring grace (charisma) in the form of the gifts of the Holy Spirit through rituals and prayers. Characteristic of Pentecostals.
Modern usage
The term was introduced into sociology by Ernst Troeltsch. The concept of charismatic authority was important in the analysis of ideal types of states by the German sociologist M. Weber. According to his classic definition: “Charisma is a personality quality that is recognized as extraordinary, thanks to which it is assessed as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically special powers and properties that are not available to other people.” The phenomenon of charisma takes place in small and especially large groups, where the personification of ideals is observed in the process of unity. Charisma most often arises in extreme historical conditions, when a corresponding socio-psychological need is formed. The qualities of a charismatic leader operating in the religious or political arena are sometimes mystified. He is considered a prophet, a gigantic historical figure, a deliverer, a demigod, carrying out a “great mission” and all the successes of his supporters are attributed. Even obvious failures turn into his glorification (flight is perceived as salvation, any losses are perceived as necessary sacrifices or the machinations of enemies, absurd statements are perceived as incomprehensible wisdom).
Religious charismatic figures known to history include Jesus Christ, Buddha and Muhammad. Charismatics include the creators of trends within world religions - Luther and Calvin, for example. On the other hand, these are famous statesmen and military figures, such as Genghis Khan, Tigran or Napoleon. In the 20th century, such figures include Hitler and Mussolini, Roosevelt and Churchill, Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky, but also Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. The property of charisma is relatively indifferent to the type of activity and its moral and ethical content: a charismatic leader can be a saint or a criminal with equal success.
The everyday expression “He has charisma” means that a person makes a strong impression on others, they succumb to his influence and are ready to follow him.
Contrary to popular belief, the term should not be used to describe or refer to the characteristics of inanimate objects. For example: “charismatic design.”
see also
Literature
- Lipp W. Stigma und Charisma: über soziales Grenzverhalten. Würzburg: Ergon-Verl., 2010
Notes
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
Synonyms:See what “Charisma” is in other dictionaries:
- (Greek mercy, grace, deities, gift), exclude. giftedness; endowment of any person (charismatic leader, prophet, preacher, political figure), action, institution or symbol with special qualities of exclusivity,... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia
charisma- (from the Greek charisma gift) endowing a person with properties that evoke admiration for her and unconditional faith in her capabilities. This phenomenon is characteristic of small and especially large groups, which tend to personalize their ideals in the process... Great psychological encyclopedia
- (charisma) In Christian theology, the term meant the Lord's mercy, God's gift; later Weber used it in this sense: the property of a person, thanks to which he stands out among ordinary people and can be considered as endowed with... ... Political science. Dictionary.
- (Greek charisma, grace, divine gift), exceptional talent; a charismatic leader is a person endowed with authority in the eyes of his followers; charisma is based on the exceptional qualities of his personality: wisdom, heroism, holiness... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
- [gr. charisma grace, gift] endowing a person with properties that evoke admiration for her and unconditional faith in her capabilities; high talent, personal attractiveness. Dictionary of foreign words. Komlev N.G., 2006. charisma s, g. (French... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
Giftedness, grace, attractiveness, charm, mercy, luck, gift Dictionary of Russian synonyms. charisma noun, number of synonyms: 14 grace (29) ... Synonym dictionary
charisma- y, w. Charisme gr. charisma. Noms donnés à des dons spirituels extraordinaires octroyés transitoirement par l Esprit Saint a des groupes ou à des individus en vue du bien général de l Eglise chrétienne Extraordinary spiritual gift... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language
The word "charisma" comes from the ancient Greek "charita", meaning "gift from God", or "divine grace".
In the myths of Ancient Greece, the Charites are the daughters of the almighty Zeus, the goddesses of joy, beauty and harmony, accompanying the beautiful Aphrodite. (In the myths of Ancient Rome they are also the Three Graces.)
According to esotericists, charismatics are people whose souls have been reincarnated many times, therefore they are more perfect than the souls of other people.
What is this gift of God? People endowed with it have extraordinary magnetic power - they are so attractive to others that they often become an unquestioned authority, an idol for them and have a great influence on them, sometimes regardless of the views they preach.
“Charisma is a spark in a person that money cannot buy. This is invisible energy with a visible effect,” is how charisma was described by the American writer Marianne Wilmson, who calls herself the spiritual mentor of Hollywood stars.
Another American writer, Robert Greene, wrote in his book “The 24 Laws of Seduction” that “charisma is a kind of mysterious force that evokes our enthusiastic veneration... This is seduction on a mass scale.”
In our everyday life, the word “charismatic” began to be widely used not so long ago, and in vain, because it alone can characterize a person, which previously would have required us a dozen words. It is charming and attractive, charming and attractive, charming and bewitching, stunning and captivating, interesting and fantastic, etc.
Charismatic people attract much more attention than conventional handsome men and beauties or “smart men and women,” because they have a zest, a spark that ignites others.
But charisma, charisma, charisma, charisma attracts you so much
“The most famous actress in history” - this is what they wrote about the French actress Sarah Bernhardt at the beginning of the last century. She was called the “divine Sarah,” but she was not a beauty.
She did not know maternal love, because her courtesan mother was constantly on the move and Sarah was raised by nannies. She grew up in a depressing and dreary environment, became withdrawn and for a long time could not read, write, or count. In addition, she was not entirely healthy, and doctors said that she would die soon from tuberculosis.
As a teenager, Sarah went to the Comedie-Française theater. “When the curtain rose, I felt that I was losing consciousness... and at that moment the curtain of my life rose,” she would later write in the book “My Double Life.” She became an actress, and almost immediately an incredible and unexpected artistic success came to her. It was explained by the extraordinary charisma of Sarah Bernhardt, and she herself said that “to achieve success, you need to be charming. Charm manifests itself in everything and nothing at the same time: in the energy emanating from you, in your gaze, in your gait, in your physique, in the sound of your voice, in your graceful gestures.”
The famous Coco Chanel, who did not have ideal features and shape, but was incredibly charming, also possessed a mysterious French charm. She was orphaned early, grew up in an orphanage - did it seem that good things could await her in the future? But she herself had no doubt that it would be beautiful.
Inner strength and self-confidence, the magnetic gaze of black eyes fascinated those around her. She became a fashion designer and literally revolutionized the fashion world. “We must preserve our own uniqueness: in movements, thoughts, actions,” she said. One of the journalists who interviewed her said that even at 80 she was almost desirable.
Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, was a charismatic leader. It seemed that he alone, thanks to his personal magnetism, set in motion the mechanism of a huge corporation. He had the gift of persuasion, the ability to motivate employees and a genius instinct. He was someone you wanted to look up to and reach the same level as him. He is called one of those people who changed the world for the better.
It’s interesting that when we talk about a charismatic person, we mostly mean a positive person who radiates light energy. But among charismatics there are also repulsive individuals who also have the characteristics of a leader.
For example, the same war criminal Hitler had the power of persuasion, thanks to which he forced his compatriots to believe in the exclusivity of the Aryan race and its special mission, which resulted in the death of 56 million people.
Anyone who knew him in his youth would never have thought that he was the future leader of Germany. Unpretentious in appearance, ignorant, friendless and hating everyone, the little man suddenly became an idol for his fellow citizens.
How could this happen, what is this hypnotic power of one person that could send the entire planet to hell? This issue has been the subject of many studies by historians and psychologists, including the book by British historian Lawrence Rees, “The Dark Charisma of Hitler: Leading Millions into the Abyss,” and the BBC documentary “The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler.”
Is it possible to become charismatic?
Sociologists and psychologists are still arguing whether charisma is an innate quality or an acquired one. Lived in the 19th - 20th centuries. German sociologist Max Weber, who studied issues of leadership and power, believed that a charismatic person has supernatural, superhuman and exceptional abilities that are not characteristic of ordinary people, which are explained by divine origin.
Our contemporary American Olivia Fox Cabane, who studies leadership, writes in her book “Myths about Charisma” that charisma is not a gift inherited genetically, but an art that can be mastered. In another book “Charisma. How to influence, convince and inspire,” she shares secrets on how to unleash your charisma. For what? “Charismatic people influence the world,” she says.
When you communicate with charismatic people, you yourself are charged with their energy. It’s nice to be friends with them, to work with them, you trust them. Such people are preferred by employers. For example, when working in sales, they sell several times more than their colleagues. They easily find investors rather than taking out a bank loan.
Thanks to their personal qualities, charismatics move up the career ladder faster and become people who make a difference in this world.
Become charismatic
If you want to become charismatic, you should pay attention to your appearance: neatness comes first. Perhaps someone likes charming slobs, but there are unlikely to be many such people. Most likely, these are those who are sloppy themselves. Coco Chanel said that “you can still get used to ugliness, but never to sloppiness!” And also: “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.”
Appearance is also the ability to carry yourself beautifully and use “body language” correctly. Everyone can walk and talk, but how? Only a few are worthy of emulation, so we will do everything to be one of them. Moreover, now everyone can find developmental courses on the Internet to suit their taste.
And don't forget to watch your facial expression. Even if we are not in the mood, we take off the mask of concern, oppression by life’s circumstances and put on a smile, radiating goodwill. “Smile more often and people will be drawn to you,” says popular wisdom.
A charismatic person is an interesting and witty conversationalist. He will always find a topic to talk with anyone. His opinions are original and non-trivial. But he does not overwhelm others with his knowledge and does not chatter incessantly, giving others the opportunity to speak.
He knows how to listen, which, unfortunately, is given to few, so people often trust him with their secrets. A very valuable quality, especially for those who know how to benefit from the information received.
Possessing the art of conversation, a charismatic person knows how to win over his interlocutor: he will call him by name several times, inadvertently give a compliment, and now they will say about him: “A person pleasant in all respects.”
Empathy is an indispensable quality for a charismatic person. The ability to feel what it’s like for another person now, to empathize with his emotions so as not to offend him, to sympathize with him, to support him, to rejoice with him - this character trait is worth a lot.
People lacking this valuable quality are selfish, callous and have many ill-wishers through their own fault. “Let’s understand each other perfectly,” wrote Bulat Okudzhava.
All charismatic people have an inner core. They may only seem soft and compliant outwardly, because they are tolerant and know how to control their emotions. Their inner strength and self-confidence do not allow them to be led astray from the path they have chosen for themselves. And it is this force that attracts other people to them, infecting them with positivity and faith that everything planned will work out.
Charismatics love themselves, they do not engage in self-flagellation, self-deprecation and do not waste time on fruitless regrets - they do not have time for this. They know their worth and try to be in harmony with themselves and the world around them.
It is often said about some people: “He is a charismatic person.” What does it mean? And what is charisma?
A charismatic person is...
Sometimes, just by looking at a person, you can understand that he is a confident and responsible person who can be trusted. Or it happens that someone enters a room and his presence immediately makes your soul feel warm and pleasant, and the room itself seems to be illuminated with light. We cannot express it in words, but we subconsciously feel that he has a certain power that makes people gravitate towards him. People around you begin to experience these or similar sensations when a charismatic person stands in front of them. This can be expressed in anything: in a look, posture, style of clothing, gestures... But most often it is a combination of all personal qualities and habits.
Before delving into the topic and examining in detail what a charismatic person means and whether it is possible to become one, let’s get acquainted with the word “charisma”. Its roots are in Ancient Greece. There, the word “charisma” meant “gift.” But not only the ancient Greeks thought so. Christians believed that a charismatic person is one who has been awarded a gift from God, and by charisma they understood some great power, a spark. And in the great and powerful, “charismatic” is a synonym for the word “charming.”
Modern interpretation
Apparently, the ancients noticed that a charismatic person is a strong person with a “great gift.” Modern society also does not lag behind its forefathers. There are more than fifty interpretations of the term “charisma”. However, the famous political scientist and psychologist Mark Weber was the first to identify what this “great force” is. He devoted his entire life to the study of power and leadership and noted that charisma is a quality that helps a person look exceptional in the eyes of others and, as it were, endows its owner with a special, “great” strength capable of withstanding any difficulties. Weber also proposed a theory in which a charismatic man (or woman) has influence over a wide mass of people and can control them.
In today's business world, this is often seen in business. The head of an organization simply cannot help but have charisma; it’s like a passport to the world of the successful and powerful. This is all due to the fact that any organization is managed not by the smartest specialist and not by the one who works the hardest, but by the one who is able to raise and inspire his employees to great labor feats and lead them to the bitter end.
You don't have to be successful
By the way, you don’t have to be rich and successful to have charisma. The fact is that you are not born with this quality, it can be developed. Of course, there are people with innate charisma. However, very often its influence on others is short-lived. Therefore, one must always practice and develop in this regard.
Those who were born and lived as an inconspicuous gray mouse do not need to despair and should at least try to obtain this “great power”. True, for this you need to make enormous efforts and completely change your previous life. First of all, you need to decide on this. And this is very difficult, since there is a daily, perhaps lasting several years, character strengthening. This means acquiring new healthy habits and completely abandoning old, harmful ones. And once you have already started, you must under no circumstances loosen your grip and stop, otherwise everything will go to waste. And most importantly, there must be unshakable faith in yourself. And then the results of your work will undoubtedly exceed all expectations.
How to become a leader
So, there is a strong determination to change for the better and develop leadership qualities. All that remains is to learn the secrets of charisma and decide what exactly needs to be developed.
- Confidence. No one will ever listen to someone who is trying to prove his point by hunching over and mumbling something incomprehensible in a quiet voice. Even posture and gait, straightened shoulders, a confident look, appropriate gestures, facial expressions and clear, intelligible speech - this is what will help convey your point of view to your opponent.
- Image. A strong personality should stand out. This does not mean that you need to run to an expensive boutique for fashionable “rags” or put a trash can on your head and walk around with it. Let the clothes be modest and inexpensive, the main thing is that they complement the image and create the right impression. As they say, the main thing is that the suit fits.
- Ability to bear responsibility. Now this is a rare occurrence. Few people want to get screwed over an uncompleted task, so such people try to distance themselves from any responsibility. A true leader must be able to take responsibility not only for himself, but also for everyone who is under his leadership. Otherwise, there can be no talk of any trust.
- Emotional control. It is imperative to develop this quality. No one will follow someone who, at the first difficulty, begins to panic as if the end of the world had come.
This is not the entire set of necessary qualities, but this is the most basic thing that people pay attention to and what attracts the masses. In addition, you need to have several very useful habits before becoming a charismatic person.
He knows how to listen
You need to be able to listen very carefully to your interlocutor, delve into his problems, sympathize, advise something, and encourage him. In this case, it is advisable to use gestures and facial expressions to maintain a conversation. It is the interlocutor who should speak, but not the leader.
Sometimes each of us needs not another person, but his ears, into which we need to utter everything that hurts and has been kept deep in our souls for years. It happens that simply listening to your opponent is enough, because in this case the center of attention is only him and no one else.
He can put things aside
When communicating with an interlocutor, all attention should be focused on him. You cannot be distracted by anything else, even if it is a very important call. It will be very unpleasant for your opponent in a conversation if your communication is interrupted by a telephone conversation. It’s worth giving these few minutes, and the interlocutor will see a real leader and remember him for a long time.
Leaders see the benefits of others
A charismatic person is not only someone who has leadership qualities and listens to everyone. Not a single representative of the human race is able to know everything and be able to do everything. Therefore, a leader always sees the strengths and skills of other people, listens to them in matters related to their professional skills, and also praises and thanks them for a job well done.
They don't gossip
The leader's charisma does not allow gossip behind someone's back. A strong person will never throw mud at another, especially if he does not know all the details and subtleties of the current situation.
However, he can laugh a lot at himself and his mistakes from the past, passing on instructive experiences to those around him. At the same time, there is no need to prohibit others from laughing at them. After all, in this case no one laughs at you, everyone just has fun with you.
Examples of strong people
Throughout the history of humanity there have been a huge number of such people. But in order to best understand who a charismatic person, a leader, is, you can look at a couple of personalities.
Vladimir Putin
A charismatic man and an excellent example of a leader in modern society. Walking with the people, he is slowly rebuilding the country from ruins after the “dashing 90s.” He was especially loved by the people of his (and not only) country for the fact that he listens to all citizens without exception and responds to their requests and comments, as well as for the fact that he does not succumb to the provocations of the rest of the world and conducts politics as he sees fit.
Steve Jobs
A very charismatic person, whose example you can take into account. He believed that there is no person who would achieve something without making mistakes. It is those who constantly fell, but always rose, trying out different strategies and ways to achieve their goals, who deserve to become great. By the way, he went through all this himself.
Mahatma Gandhi
An ideologist and one of those who fought for the independence of his native India from British rule. What is noteworthy is that the main principle of the struggle was the idea of non-violence. He believed that any conflict can be resolved exclusively peacefully, through negotiations. It takes enormous willpower and character to preach love and peaceful relationships when rivers of blood are flowing around you.
Today I want to consider a very interesting question: what is charisma? This concept itself is quite complicated, and quite subjective; personally, I don’t fully understand it myself, so I’m also interested in understanding this issue in more detail. Who it charismatic person, what are the signs of charisma, is there a secret to charisma, is this an innate quality or can charisma be developed: we will touch on all these questions in today’s article. So, first things first.
Is charisma important at all and why? Absolutely yes. Because a charismatic person has an easier time in life and in any business. In any contacts with other people that he has to go through, he will have an advantage over those who lack charisma.
The word “charisma” comes to us from the Greek language, where it literally means “anointing” or “gift from God.” In different dictionaries, the interpretation of the concept of “charisma” is somewhat different. If we generalize and put together the different definitions, we get the following:
Charisma- these are some unique, exceptional features of a person that can manifest themselves in appearance, intelligence, character, spiritual development or anything else, and which at the same time make a person attractive to other people.
Charismatic person(or charismatic) is, accordingly, a person who has charisma.
Charismatic people are, as a rule, leaders who have many followers, fans, and are able to unite and lead other people. The very first charismatic personalities were considered to be religious leaders - Jesus Christ, Buddha, Prophet Muhammad (it’s not for nothing that this word is translated that way). Later, well-known worldly personalities began to be classified as charismatics, first - political leaders and military leaders, such as Napoleon, Genghis Khan, Churchill, Roosevelt, Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, etc. Today, movie actors, show business stars, businessmen and others are called charismatic.
That is, the very concept of charisma, like the concept of success, for example, can be of different scales; a charismatic person can have charisma to one degree or another: from a small one, sufficient to attract a separate circle of other people, to a huge one, bringing him worldwide fame.
Interestingly, the most famous charismatic people, as a rule, did not have outstanding qualities; their charisma included other, internal qualities.
Is it possible to develop charisma?
Now let's look at whether charisma can be developed, or is it an innate quality? There are different points of view on this matter. Initially, charisma was considered an exclusively innate quality (a gift from God), but recent research tends to suggest that charisma is a combination of certain qualities that can be developed even without initially having them. That is, you can develop charisma.
Let's look at what needs to be done for this, what qualities and character traits to develop in yourself in order to have charisma. Research into already established historical figures who are generally recognized as charismatic will help us with this. So what do they all have in common? Let's call these “charismatic qualities.”
Charismatic qualities.
Sight. Many psychologists are inclined to think that the main secret of charisma lies in the gaze. A charismatic person is characterized by a direct, very confident and even slightly arrogant look. It’s as if he sees right through you, his gaze hypnotizes and forces you to obey. For many, this quality is innate, but you can try and develop it in yourself. The simplest exercise is to focus your gaze on one point for a long time, without stopping or blinking: this way you can gradually give your gaze that same magnetism and hypnotizing effect characteristic of a charismatic person.
External data. They are also an important factor for charisma, but not critical. On the contrary, the most famous charismatic people did not have outstanding appearance, but this served them as an additional incentive: they strived more strongly to achieve excellence in something else, which they succeeded in. However, a lot also depends on appearance, so it is also worth working on it where it is possible and necessary: exercise, proper nutrition will be your good helpers in this matter.
Style. The style of a charismatic person is always individual. He in no way follows fashion and does not strive to dress and look like everyone else. This is because he is extremely confident in himself and is absolutely independent of the opinions of the majority. Simplicity, elegance, zest, as well as masculinity (for men) and femininity (for women) - these are the key concepts that can characterize the style of a charismatic person.
Separately, I want to dwell on the highlight. This is precisely a certain moment that gives a person individuality and noticeably sets him apart from the crowd; this is the element of style with which a charismatic person is immediately associated. Stalin's pipe, Hitler's mustache, Che Guevara's beret, Yulia Timoshenko's braid and even a tracksuit - these are examples of those very “highlights” characteristic of the style of charismatic people.
Therefore, if you want to become charismatic, develop charisma in yourself, you need to give up fashionable and provocative images (let’s leave them for show business) and find some zest for yourself. And of course, do not depend at all on the opinions of others about your style.
Character traits. One of the most important features of any charismatic person is certain character traits that can and should be developed in oneself. In particular, these are well-developed strong-willed qualities, determination, ambition, constant work on oneself, and, of course, strong personality. A charismatic person never rests on his laurels: he is always on the move, always moving forward, even if he fails. It is almost impossible to stop a strong charismatic (remember the examples of military leaders).
Oratory. Most charismatic people were or are outstanding speakers. Therefore, oratory and public speaking skills should be considered among the qualities that allow a person to develop charisma. Charismatic people are always leaders, but how can one be a leader without being able to speak competently, beautifully and convincingly? It's hard to imagine. If you want to become charismatic, you should think about developing this skill.
Mysteriousness. And one more very important quality that unites charismatic people is the presence of certain riddles or secrets associated with them. A charismatic person, even if he is public, never reveals all his secrets; many aspects associated with his life and activities remain a secret, and this secret serves as an additional quality that attracts him. Sometimes various rumors and myths were even deliberately spread around charismatic personalities to enhance their charisma.
I hope I was able to form a clearer idea of what charisma is, who can be considered a charismatic person, what qualities can and should be inherent in him. Once again I want to emphasize that charisma is a very important assistant on the path to success, so it makes sense to develop it in yourself: it is easier for a charismatic person to go through life.
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