Daily
in life we meet people, some we instantly like, and some we immediately
dislike. These judgements on whether to like or not like someone are usually
made on first impression, without the person having to prove themselves. Ever
wondered why often come up with such judgements and conclusions? A simple word
could describe this phenomenon; Charisma.
Charisma
is defined as, a compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion.
It is that quality or trait about a person that makes you naturally and easily
has a feeling of being drawn towards them without effort. It’s almost like you
can’t help but just love or like them without volition. Ever heard people say
something like, “I don’t know, but I just like her?” such is the power of
Charisma. Inspiring the opposite feeling in the same manner would just mean the
lack thereof of Charisma; you haven’t done anything wrong but yet still you
have an air of being unpleasant or obnoxious around you.
Why
should be important to study Charisma as a must have trait for a leader? Well
as you will notice, Charisma is a force in itself, which if harnessed can
produce significant and important results for the wielder. Having Charisma
makes life easy for a leader; lacking it would require much effort from the
same leader. This does no off course assert that to be an effective leader one
must be likable.
So
where does this Charisma come from? While some are born naturally charismatic,
it does not mean that those who are not should despair. Charisma can be
developed. It can be consciously developed and mastered. As a matter of fact
there is nothing much required. Charisma is derived from our simple and usually
subconscious daily gestures and expressions. It’s mainly a product of our body
language and nonverbal communication.
Simple
things like how you carry oneself or even dress could inspire Charisma on your
subjects. Without saying a word, you could have it going for you. Next time you
have a meeting or event, try to make it early or be the first to get in a
place. Observe how people walk in and the reactions they get from people
thereafter. Some people really know how to walk into a room. Get this right,
Charisma is different from trying to make a statement or being extravagant! You
will realise that with some people you will make a mental note to talk to
instantly as they walk in while there might be some you might actually decide
to avoid even if you don’t know both.
Some
leaders know how to charm their subordinates to compulsively like them. Realise
how different leaders make speeches. Some know exactly when to pause and just
smile during a speech, while some will read the whole speech without even
inspiring any emotion in you. To help you understand try and really figure out
why you like certain news readers and remain indifferent about other readers
even when you don’t know their personalities away from the screen. It all boils
down to charm. Great leaders have used Charisma to their advantage since time
began, they do not lose their audience when talking to them because they have
them enchanted by their charm. In fact it’s almost like they have them enchanted
into a trance every time they speak, because the subordinate will fixate all
their concentration on the leader. Average leaders on the other hand do not
inspire any emotion at all in their audience and they often lose them.
You
will realise that Charismatic leaders also don’t find it hard to gain a
followership and this is what matters the most. Leadership is simply about
influence that generates followers. This trait can be used in all sectors and
social spheres. Religiously we have Charismatic preachers who do not find it
hard to draw large crowds to them. They know the right words to say, when and
how to say them. At times followers are drawn to them not because of their word
only or not even because of their miracles, but just because of how charismatic
they are in their delivery of sermons.
It
is important that you become charismatic to get things easily going for you in
whatever you do, even if you are not a leader. Do away with things like gloom
and sadness which repels people away from you. Develop an aura of positivity
around you so that people naturally like you, it will sway many things in your
favour. Figure out some known charismatic people; study them so that you put a
pulse onto what exactly makes them charismatic so that you too become that.
Just
remember that being Charismatic doesn’t mean pleasing everyone, it means
charming people. You need it.
The writer is a
motivational speaker
He can be
contacted on glendhliwayo@gmail.com
thanx a lot for such eye opening message
ReplyDeleteThanks Rue glad that you are motivated all the way. Remember we are all destined for greatness in our various fields in different ways
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