Charisma: elements, development

Why charisma?

Charisma is closely related to assertiveness, which we all need, if only for defensive reasons. Charisma is not just about showing off.

Charisma enables us to influence (and inspire) others, and also to influence our external environment, which from time to time we all need to do - even the introverts among us. Time management, for example, crucially depends on managing our environment and the expectations of others.

If you want to build a business, lead a team, be a teacher or a trainer or a speaker, or maybe enter politics, then you have more reasons for developing your charismatic powers.

Charisma is not an always-on aura that only special people possess. Charisma is a force of human personality which can be understood, measured, and developed. And while some people seem more naturally charismatic than others, the truth is that anyone - given belief and effort - can develop charismatic power, either as a conscious behaviour to be used when needed, or as a deeper 'second nature'.

Charisma is useful for inspiring others, leading a team, or teaching and developing people, or being an innovator or a fund-raiser.

Charisma is also helpful for project-management, problem-solving, facilitating and pioneering.

And charisma is of course useful for all sorts of personal relationships - dating, mating, parenting, etc.

Charisma helps in any situation where you need or want to influence other people and external factors.

When you see charisma in these terms - and also as a way of understanding and controlling your own strength of character - you might also see reasons in your own life for wanting to develop some charismatic power for yourself.

Origins and definitions

The modern Oxford English Dictionary definition of charisma: "Compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others."

Interestingly the word charisma hadn't made it into the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary by the 1922 edition, and not even the 1953 edition. The 'Shorter OED' is not actually 'short' - it's huge - it's the next biggest OED version to the full several-volumes-long OED which only big libraries keep. In fact the 1922 and 1953 Shorter OED listed the older words 'charism' and 'charismata' rather than charisma: "Charism - Plural charismata and charisms. 1641. A favour specially vouchsafed by God; a grace, a talent. Hence charismatic, adjective, of or pertaining to a charism."

So the word charismatic was in popular use before charisma. And charisma - which replaced charism - almost certainly grew from charismatic, which in turn logically grew from the plural charismata, originally meaning 'god-given powers'.

The English roots of charisma are in this divine sense, entering English in the mid-1600s via ecclesiastical (of the church) Latin from (according to the OED) the Greek kharisma, from kharis, meaning 'grace' or 'favour' - a favour or grace or gift given by God. Chambers Dictionary of Etymology varies slightly with the OED in suggesting that charisma replaced the earlier English spelling charism (first recorded before 1641) around 1875. The Shorter OED omissions of the word suggests that popular use of charisma instead of charism and charismata came much later than 1875. Chambers says the Greek root words are charisma and charizesthai (to show favour), from charis (favour, grace) and related to chairein, meaning rejoice, which is rather apt. According to Chambers again, the adjective charismatic appeared in English around 1882-83, from the Greek charismata, meaning favours given (by God).

Charismata (plural) and charism (singular) still exist as English word variations of charisma. These older words remain defined as: "Divinely conferred power(s) or talent(s)."

The meaning of the word charisma has moved on somewhat.

The sense of 'gift of leadership or power of authority' for charisma had developed and was in use by 1947 (first recorded).

This meaning had extended to 'strong personal appeal or magnetism', notably referring to political figures, by the 1960s.

Up to date, Wikipedia's definition/explanation of charisma (retrieved 28 August 2008) is:

"Although difficult or even impossible to define accurately (due to an abundance of wildly diverse criteria in regard to the trait), charisma is often used to describe an elusive, even undefinable personality trait that often includes the seemingly 'supernatural' or uncanny ability to lead, charm, persuade, inspire, and/or influence people. It refers especially to a quality in certain people who easily draw the attention and admiration (or even hatred if the application of such charisma is perceived to be negative) of others due to a 'magnetic' quality of personality and/or appearance. Related terms and phrases include: grace, exuberance, equanimity, mystique, positive energy, joie de vivre, extreme charm, personal magnetism, personal appeal, 'electricity', and allure, among many others. Usually many of these specific qualities must be present within a single individual for the person to be considered highly charismatic by the public and their peers. Despite the strong emotions they so often induce in others, charismatic individuals generally project unusual calmness, confidence, assertiveness, dominance, authenticity, and focus, and almost always possess superb communication and/or oratorical skills. Although the etymology of the word ('divine gift') might suggest that charisma can't be acquired, and despite the persistent inability to accurately define or even fully understand the concept, it is believed that charisma can be taught and/or learned. Others disagree with this assertion and maintain that it is an inborn trait, or acquired through growing up, and that it cannot be learned, taught, or 'gained' at will. Charisma can also be used in a negative way..." (Wikipedia, August 2008)

The concept of charisma translates across all cultures. For example, an interesting alternative word for charisma is mojo , which has very similar meanings to charisma, yet is derived from completely different roots, namely Black American creole (hybrid language), evolving from West African people.

While the origins of the word and usage of charisma imply Christian religious connections, this mainly reflects how historically people sought to explain intangible concepts. As the world has become more able to explain things scientifically and factually, associations between charisma and godly gifts have become largely obsolete, except among strongly religious people.

Similarly, as with leadership, notions that charismatic qualities are inborn are not easy to substantiate. There are many examples of people who develop charisma through training and/or experience, like the many who develop qualities of leadership.

Developing charisma

While the specialised approach to the development of charisma is relatively recent, the generalised or related approach to the development of charisma is extremely old, although in such cases it would not have been labelled 'charisma'.

Historically the generalised/related development of charisma has been as a by-product of leadership or stage performance, or oration (public speaking) of some sort. This perhaps explains why historically charismatic people have tended to be actors, stage performers, and leaders.

One could argue that these people have become successful in their fields because of charismatic appeal, which is to an extent true, but charisma here is mostly an effect, rather than a cause. The main point is that charismatic people tend to come from these backgrounds, and there is a reason for this.

Training and/or experience in effective emotional communications - with all that this term implies - is the key to developing charisma. Each of the three words contains several implications and an underpinning principle:

• effective - engaging, relevantly targeted, inspiring, confident
• emotional - passionate, empathic, two-way (the charismatic person feels and reflects the feelings of others)
• communications - beyond words alone ( body language and expressive style are crucial)

• underpinning this is self-confidence and belief in respect of the purpose and area/audience being engaged.

Charisma is not a matter of fame and celebrity. Charisma is definitely not something which comes automatically to every famous person. We can all think of countless famous people and celebrities who have zero charisma. Many famous people have charisma, but fame is not what makes charisma.

Charisma is first a learned or acquired capability. It is then logically an enabling quality, which in many cases is then self-fuelling through experience and the (conscious or unconscious) refinement of techniques, and the growth of confidence (self, and others in relation to the charismatic person).

A general or related approach to developing charisma has long been present in the schooling of actors and stage performers. Aspects of charisma have also featured for centuries in the teaching of public speaking. Leadership training has also for many years included personal development which tends to advance some of the key elements of charisma, but none of these various sorts of training traditionally focus on developing charisma specifically.

As much as any other reason this is because charisma has not until recently been regarded as a quality that is attainable and useful for 'ordinary' people.

Among those who've attempted to analyse charisma in terms of measurable and 'developable' elements is British personal development expert Nikki Owen, who has built a behavioural learning model around the concept of charisma.

Regular visitors to this website might recognize Nikki Owen as the brain behind the excellent Sales Activator sales training system. She has applied similar innovation, rigour and passion to her latest work on charisma.

The intriguing paper, An Audience with Charisma , details Ms Owen's accessible and practical approach to understanding and developing charisma.

Elements of charisma

Many and various other models of charisma exist, which testify to the growing acceptance that charisma is not 'God-given' or inborn; instead it is a behavioural quality that anyone can develop.

Broadly these models focus on similar things: Using effective speech and body language ; being confident, genuine and individual; making people feel good; and being passionate or enthusiastic about your (ideally worthy) aims or views.

Here for instance is a summary of the main points of the charisma development model collectively formulated on the wikihow website , (as at September 2008). Note this model also states that everyone is able to develop charismatic power.

1. Relax (meditate if helpful).
2. Look confident (by feeling confident, having positive confident body language, and behaving as an equal to others).
3. Get in touch with your emotions (and with other people's).
4. Be genuine.
5. Match your body language to your speech (this tends to happen naturally if you are being genuine).
6. Think before you speak (less is more - silence is fine when you have nothing to say).
7. Speak with conviction (including the way you say things, facial expressions, body language - see Mehrabian's theory )
8. Treat people as they want to be treated (notably listen actively and make others people feel special).

Other points:

• Charisma must come from within you as an individual - individuality is vital.
• Everyone can be charismatic.
• Have a message, which can be controversial.
• Acting and toastmaster classes help.
• Be honest and bold, but don't offend people.
• Charisma used for wrong reasons tends not to succeed.

Nikki Owen: charisma development model

Nikki Owen has studied charisma for many years in the context of personal development. Her particular skill is creating effective learning methods, and she brings this special perspective the challenge of understanding and developing personal charisma.

As we know, there are many and various definitions of charisma. However to develop a personal skill or capability - especially a behavioural quality - we need more than a definition. We need measurable elements. We also need benchmarks or standards, and methods of measuring actual levels of performance in each element, before and after intervention (development or learning activities). Most challengingly, we need the methods of improving the elemental capabilities which together make up the whole behavioural quality that we are attempting to develop. Nikki Owen's model seems to have these components.

Charisma elements - Nikki Owen

Nikki Owen defines charisma by way of five significant personal attributes, summarised briefly here. Her development model is able to measure and develop each of these elements. As such she seems to have devised a logical, predictable and reliable way to understand, measure and develop personal charisma.

Nikki Owen's Charisma Elements Model is © Nikki Owen and Performance Practitioners Ltd 2008, and is used with permission.

Details of Nikki Owen's charisma development model is available in the paper An Audience with Charisma , which explains Nikki Owen's research and theory, and also introduces her charisma development workshop.

You can also learn more about her approach at her website of the same name, which includes a free online charisma profiling tool.

Businessballs does not receive a commission for recommending Nikki Owen's concept.