On Charisma

I have been engaged in an ongoing discussion with a dear friend of mine regarding the negative connotations surrounding 'charisma'. The question that keeps coming up is how do we move away from the negative qualities that we often associate with charismatic people and highlight those individuals who do wonderful things with their charismatic attributes? Better yet, how do we motivate people to want to become more charismatic? Is charisma really the characteristic we are defining? After much debate, I have spun my head around to look at the situation from a different perspective.

When we discuss charisma, we think in terms of black or white, yes or no. Perhaps charisma, like many things, falls on some sort of continuum or spectrum that allows individuals to move from one level of being charismatic to another. This could also be referred to as different levels of engagement. When we look at the qualities of a charismatic being, the list is exhausting. We must be sure to incorporate not only the personal qualities such as genuineness, compassion, empathy, vulnerability, humility, listening, kindness, generosity, authenticity, integrity, honesty – just to name a few – but we must also incorporate personal and professional credibility as it pertains to appearance, mannerisms, posture, attire, presentation, demeanor, etc. As we bring all of these elements into play, it is overwhelming to think of all the alignment that must take place in order for someone to be completely integrated, engaged, or genuinely charismatic. Therefore, charisma can be defined on one of three levels, depending upon the level of engagement of the individual. It is important to note that regardless of the level of engagement, all charismatic people have one thing in common: magnetism. Others are naturally drawn to these individuals.

Level Three (Politician):
Examples of level three charismatic people are politicians such as John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, or Bill Clinton. Other examples are often that of televangelists. At this level, charisma can have a negative connotation resulting in a feeling of being played or taken, which is commonly referred to as “The Used Car Salesman”. These individuals are great at stepping into the lives of others, of making others feel as though they are the most important person at that moment in time, but when they walk away something just isn’t right. Additionally, often these individuals exhibit high levels of professionalism. What keeps them at a level three is the intent and/or motive of the behavior. There is often a lack of genuineness, a lack of commitment and others are left feeling manipulated. The lack of trust in the level three individual results in short-term gains for long-term losses, because others sense their limited sincerity.

Level Two (The Good Samaritan):
Strong examples of a level two charismatic person would be Will Rogers, Zig Ziglar or Princess Diana. The level two charismatic person provides the positive connotation of what charisma has the potential to represent for the average individual. It is those people who strive to make a difference and are constantly working to place the needs of others in front of their own. They, too, exhibit the magnetism. The difference though, is that their intentions are genuine versus manipulative. The struggle for the level two is balancing their charismatic strengths under the pressures of everyday life. It is making the conscious decision to step into the shoes of another as Christ would and put everything else aside. It is appreciating the perspective of another for nothing more than that. It is the vulnerability of risking self for the gains of another. The distraction comes when we lack patience and self-promotion becomes the priority. This is what separates the level two individuals from the level one.

Level One (Christ-like):
This individual is fully integrated with the characteristics, behaviors and skills of an altruistic, genuinely charismatic human being. They exhibit this magnetism that conveys humility and compassion. They have truly walked in the shoes of another and only relate their journey because their ability to do so has a positive impact on others. Level one engagement requires individuals to completely set themselves aside, regardless of the time or energy needed to devote to others. One could say, they take short-term losses for long-term gains, but for the level one charismatic person there is no loss. This individual infinitely operates with integrity, vulnerability, humility and authenticity.

Although charismatic people are born with this quality, and not all individuals have charisma, it is fair to say those who do can work to enhance their God-given strengths. Additionally, as we evaluate charisma on a continuum it is important to note that our level of engagement is a matter of choice. We choose whether or not to engage as a level one versus a level three charismatic individual before we step into any given situation. It is our responsibility to take note of our decision and continually strive to become more engaged at the level one end of the spectrum. As difficult as it may seem to be Christ-like, that is exactly what we should be reaching for.

More thoughts to come.

S