What Defines Charisma?

Last week, our office was sent a copy of the "Dale Carnegie Training Spring 08 Courses + Seminars" magazine. I've seen copies of this particular piece of direct mail before, and they always intrigue, if for no other reason than I like to see what people will pay hundreds of dollars for, especially when I know you could probably learn the same thing at a continuing education course at the local community college for, oh, $60.

Among the offerings this spring:
- Creating an Executive Image
- How to Sell Like a Pro
- High Impact Presentations
- Public Speaking Mastery
- How to Communicate with Diplomacy and Tact

Now, most of those topics are truly topics that someone might need to learn to be successful in business. Of course, they can all be learned.

So, now you're wondering why I'm wasting your time with this blog post. Ok, Liz, you're saying, I get it. They teach so people can learn to succeed. It's pricey. So what?

Well, here's what: they claim to be able to teach you "How to Master the Secrets of Charismatic Leadership" in only 16 hours.

Right.

Charisma simply cannot be learned, at least that's my take on it. The description begins: "Some say you're born with it - you either have it or you don't. While it's no secret that about 50 percent of charisma is innate, it's a fact that the other 50 percent can be learned through the use of specific techniques and skills . . . " (Of course, they don't cite their source for this 'fact.')

Oh, and when you finish the seminar, you'll be able to "Implement 3 key elements of charisma immediately" and "Connect with people on an emotional and intellectual level." Sure you can. People with whom you've never had an emotional and/or intellectual connection with before will automatically yield to any new "techniques" that you've learned and thus, you're charismatic.

And if you believe that, I've got a perfect piece of land in South Florida that perfect for luxury housing, at the very reasonable cost of $500MM . . .

Sure you can learn some of it, but it's going to take time and practice to be able to capitalize on that which you can learn. You can learn how to smile more and to have more significant conversations in the hope of developing an emotional connection. But I'm convinced that a good part of charisma is innate. You either have it or you don't.

Does that mean you can't be successful if you don't have that innate part of charisma? Heck, no. There's a lot of truth to the "99% perspiration, 1% inspiration" definition of success. Sure, charisma will help. Sure, it will make it a bit easier, but I'd venture to say that there's a different set of challenges that assail one with charisma that those who don't have it will never encounter.

My definition of charisma: charm based on personality, with a level of veracity not otherwise possible.

Agree? Disagree? Know someone who you'd label as charismatic? Tell me.