- Posted on January 12, 2012
Your "Charisma Quotient"
Spurred by the primary election season, CBS Sunday Morning recently featured a story on charisma. The perspective of this story was how charismatic people have an edge.
Charisma is personal magnetism, or an ability to easily connect with people and draw them in. Experts often cite charisma as an attribute of effective leadership.
Although sometimes perceived as a "soft skill", scientists are now able to measure the impact of charisma. Professor Alex Pentland and his team at MIT's Media Lab have developed a device called the "sociometer" than measures "how" you say things.
In their study measuring the impact of charisma on business decisions, two factors stood out: the level of energy or excitement of the presenter and the consistency of how they presented their point of view.
You can certainly argue the importance of charisma among other leadership factors, and in the business world, charisma goes in and out of vogue. My own view is that charisma backed up by strong content is a winning combination. Without substance, charisma can have a limited shelf life.
Think about your own level of charisma, and how you might pump it up a bit. Energy and strength of conviction are factors you have control over. If you focus on these factors, chances are good that you will be more charismatic.
Concentrate on your "charisma quotient" in the week ahead and see what happens. I'd love to hear your success stories.
Have a great week!
Copyright 2012 Lisa M. Aldisert
Quote of the Day
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer."
- Muhammad Ali
January 12th Trivia
Today is National Pharmacists Day, dedicated to honoring the role that pharmacists play in medical care.
On this Day in History
In 1915, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposal to give women the right to vote.