What is charisma?   Charisma means “special gift” in Greek.  It is something that allows some people to magnetically attract others to them and their projects.

Is it innate or can it be learnt?  According to John Antonakis, Marika Fenley and Sue Liechti in the Harvard Business Review June 2012 article “Learning Charisma”, it is learnt.

How to Learn Charisma

“After executives were trained in these tactics, the leadership ratings observers gave them rose by about 60%.” John Antonakis

Learn these 17 Specific Charismatic Tactics

1. Metaphors, Similes and Analogies
2. Stories and Anecdotes
3. Contrasts
4. Rhetorical Questions
5. Three Part Lists
6. Expressions of Moral Conviction
7. Reflection of Group’s Sentiments
8. The setting of High Goals
9. Conveying Confidence in High Goals
10. Animated Voice
11. Facial Expressions
12. Gestures
13. Create a Sense of Urgency
14. Invoking History
15. Using Repetition
16. Talking about Sacrifice
17. Humour

Practice these tactics with video (check out my email based course to lead you through 10 weeks of practice).  Practice these tactics with your peers.  Practice leads to doubling the usage of these tactics in everyday life.  Use of these tactics led to ratings of competence increasing by 60%.

These tactics work because they create an emotional connection between speaker and audience.

Check out the HBR June 2012 article Learning Charisma.