C is for Charisma

If a charismatic person is alone in a locked room, are they still charismatic?

On their own, probably not. It takes 2 to tango, as they say. Charisma needs a second person to perceive the other as charismatic.

What does charisma look like?

We all know it when we see it: Dolly Parton has it, Jamie Oliver has it but singer Van Morrison famously does not. 

So, what is it?

According to Professor Susan Fiske of Princeton University, charisma comprises 2 traits: warmth and competence.

·       Warmth Being friendly and kind with others [To be explored in a later essay]

·       Competence Doing something well

To assess your competence in the moment, ask yourself:

1.     What am I here to do?

2.     What do others expect from me?

3.     What do I have to do to achieve 1 and 2?

4.     How will I know when I have achieved 1 and 2?

Charisma looks different on each of us. Focus on being your best version of warm & competent, and not a copy of someone else.