We all know them! When they enter the room, they have all the attention even though they have not said anything yet. When they speak, we tend to listen to them carefully. When they attend the office party, the most of laughs and interesting conversations happen around them. Who are they? And how do they do it? Here are the 8 signs of a charismatic person!
What is charisma?
They are charismatic people, and their behaviour has specific traits that make them attractive to their surroundings. Behavioural science research explains that charisma is one of the most desirable and crucial personality characteristics. However, it has not been proven that charisma as a personal trait directly corresponds to personality type; for example, no matter if you are an introvert or extrovert, you still can be perceived as a charismatic person. If you compare for example Johnny Depp (introvert) and Oprah Winfrey (extrovert), you will claim both of them are charismatic regardless of their personality type.
A little bit of history
So, what is this charisma, and who has it? Some describe it as a gift, others perceive it as great leadership skills. If you dive deep into history, you will find that charisma has been associated with religious protagonists such as Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, and many others, who could be the leaders and inspire their followers – not only during their time but even today. Throughout further centuries, many others have been classified as charismatic and our known through till these days. These are historical figures such as King Henry IV, freedom fighters Joan of Arc or William Wallace, leaders as Napoleon, or figures through the more modern times such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Nelson Mandela.
What are those signs?
Different sources will describe signs of charisma in different ways. At Art of Charisma, we explain the signs as the combination of skills, emotional intelligence, and personality traits. Through our charisma coaching sessions, we gradually discover each one of them in-depth and learn how to use it. Have a look at the section below to understand some of those signs!
1. Confidence
The origin of the word confidence is in Latin, where the word fidere means “to trust”.
Charismatic people trust themselves and therefore have confidence, whether it is social confidence or epistemic confidence. Such a person appears to be sure their decisions, actions, opinions, and conclusions are correct. This assurance then produces the feeling that the person can be trusted, and their opinion is always regarded as valuable. You can notice that people rely on the opinions of charismatic leaders who portray confidence and give their surroundings the feeling of safety and trust.
2. Vulnerability
Now, you may think that vulnerability is the opposite of our previous point – confidence! However, it is not, as vulnerability makes charismatic people human. Vulnerability can be anything from stating a conflicting opinion to doing something that makes you feel vulnerable based on your previous experience. By showing your vulnerabilities, people feel like they can identify with you and that you are one of them. The Pratfall Effect explains when people appear too perfect, we tend to distance ourselves from them. Therefore, doing the exact opposite and admitting your vulnerabilities makes you likable and charismatic!
Pro tip: Watch the following video on Ted Talks from Brené Brown, a social psychologist who speaks about The Power of Vulnerability:
3. Active listening
Giving someone undivided attention is another sign of a charismatic person. Through this technique of active listening, we can make our counterparty feel relaxed, and they open up as they feel safe around us. Charismatic leaders often seem fully focused on your stories, issues, or anything you are sharing with them. You might feel like you are building rapport and making a real connection. By actively listening to people, we make them feel valued and understood.
4. Being interesting
Do you remember all those cool kids in your high school? Many of us wanted to be like them. That is because another sign of a charismatic person is that they are interesting. Their hobbies, their stories, their expressions and generally their life is not boring! They do not fit into a mundane world, they attract, and inspire people around them because they are simply different. It might be their refreshing views, or maybe something more basic such as funny shoes that they bought during their holidays in Mexico.
5. Great sense of humour
Charismatic people also have a great sense of humour! They are the type of people who make everyone laugh at the parties and have quick-witted comebacks to anything. Sarcasm and self-deprecating humour then enable us to connect with them. This generally triggers a conversation within a group of people, and as a side effect, people become more relaxed. Sense of humour makes charismatic people likable and makes their presence enjoyable!
6. Amicability
Another sign of charismatic people is amicability. Imagine a colleague who works in a different department. While you two do not work on the same project, whenever you meet them, they are very friendly and fun to be around. They ask you the right questions, they feel warm and friendly, and make you feel like you want to spend more time with them!
7. Non-verbal communication
Charismatic people do not only use words to express themselves, but they also master non-verbal communication. It is eye contact, body language, touch, voice, social distance, and physical appearance that makes them charismatic. Coaching can help you to learn to utilise a wide range of nonverbal likeability cues, gestures, and signals that will make you seem engaging in your social interactions. Non-verbal communication represents the majority of our communication; therefore, mastering the correct expressions with your body can make you more charismatic person.
8. Art of storytelling
The art of storytelling goes back to visual stories portrayed in caves, which then transformed into traditions and became tales as they were passed by word of mouth. Not everyone was allowed and capable of expressing the story in a captivating way, and different cultures had designated roles in their society for individuals who master the art of interpreting experiences. Today, charismatic people always have a great story prepared as their party trick! It is often not the story itself; it is the way they tell you the story! They understand their audience, they set the scene, they have a great punchline, they use tension and their story triggers emotions. The art of storytelling makes them interesting and helps them to engage with people around them.
If you wish to dive deeper into any of these topics, we suggest you book your discovery call and find out how can Art of Charisma help you to possess some of these signs!
