Have you met people who attract attention as if they are born to do it? They may not be the loudest in the crowd, yet they can keep people engaged. Some people are natural leaders, whether they are teachers or people in important positions.
The reason is called charisma. People have always thought that a person is either born with charisma or not. However, studies show that charisma varies among individuals and can be understood in terms of their emotions, beliefs, and behaviour.
Laboratory research has shown that certain people have a charismatic personality. According to Olivia Fox Cabane in her book The Charisma Myth, charisma results from three features: presence, power, and warmth.
Presence means that full attention is paid to the other person, power means that others perceive the level of confidence, and warmth means that the person shows his/her empathy to those around him/her.
In the same vein, Steve Jobs enthralled the masses not only by launching products but also by telling compelling stories that made people feel as if they were living in the future. While being successful is one thing, the power of their personality lies in their ability to inspire faith and hope.
In India, there are also leaders whose charisma has affected people in very different ways. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is well known as one of the most prominent communicators in India.
Thanks to his powerful addresses, popular quotations, and his radio show Mann Ki Baat, he created an emotional connection with the audience. His huge following and ability to connect with the nation earned him the title of the world's most popular political leader.
Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor, the Indian politician and ex-diplomat, proclaimed another kind of appeal. Shashi Tharoor is well known for his eloquence, humour, and command of English, which have attracted a young audience of students and young professionals. His speeches in Parliament and regarding international matters go viral quite often, proving that intelligence is no less attractive than mass appeal.
Science explains how such people have a long-term impact on public perception. Studies have shown that emotionally intelligent people are more able to understand emotions and resolve conflicts, thus making them more efficient leaders due to their capability of making people hear themselves. This is especially relevant in today’s world, when people need to cooperate and communicate with one another frequently.
The splendid example proves that learned behaviour is much more important than some extraordinary talent. For example, Gene Kranz, the NASA flight director, was able to keep the crew calm and united, despite the fact that there was an explosion on the spacecraft Apollo 13.
More recently, Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, was praised for creating an atmosphere of equality and compassion in the company.
Thus, it can be stated that magnetic personalities result from habitual behaviour rather than special talents. Among their most valuable qualities are their ability to listen more than to speak, to remember everyone’s name, to admit their mistakes, and to make people feel special.
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