Debunking the Myth of Charisma

• 00:04 Let me debunk one myth right here.
• 00:06 There's this myth of the charismatic communicator,
• 00:10 the charismatic speaker, something you're just born with.
• 00:14 Now, that is a bunch of baloney.
• 00:17 Here in the United States,
• 00:18 many people think of John F Kennedy as this charismatic speaker.
• 00:23 And no, he did give some good speeches, but
• 00:26 he was considered a horrible speaker just a few years before he became president.
• 00:33 I know people here in New York City who used to see him as a young congressman
• 00:38 coming around asking for money and attending fundraisers, and
• 00:42 they said he was awful, head down, reading, nervous.
• 00:45 All you saw was sort of this thick head of hair.
• 00:48 Nothing charismatic about him.
• 00:50 It was a learned skill.
• 00:53 Now, I differ from some of my colleagues in the personal development space.
• 00:57 I happen to think there's no such thing as charisma.
• 01:00 What I think people really mean is somebody whose ideas I like,
• 01:05 for the most part, who is a great speaker.
• 01:09 Now, let me challenge you.
• 01:12 Think of someone that you perceive of as being very charismatic.
• 01:18 Isn't that person also a really good speaker?
• 01:21 Now think of someone who is an awful speaker.
• 01:25 How many people really view that person as charismatic?
• 01:28 The two go together, certainly in the world of politics.
• 01:34 Whether you think of Fidel Castro in his prime, whether or not you liked
• 01:39 his politics or not, or Tony Blair when he was in power in Great Britain.
• 01:45 What do they both have in common?
• 01:46 Fantastic public speakers.
• 01:49 So don't worry about trying to have some elusive charisma as a communicator.
• 01:58 Instead, focus on being a good communicator and
• 02:01 people will start judging you as having charisma.
• 02:05 This applies more and more when you speak to larger audiences.
• 02:10 Because plenty of people seem like just ordinary Joes when you meet them,
• 02:14 talk to them in person.
• 02:17 They can do the very same thing on stage in front of 10,000 people, but
• 02:21 because they're comfortable, confident, relaxed, have interesting stories,
• 02:26 they're instantly perceived as charismatic.
• 02:29 Well, they're just using good speaking skills, good communication skills.
• 02:34 So my tip to you, don't spend a lot of time looking for
• 02:39 this mythical lamp filled with genies to give you the charisma gene.
• 02:45 Instead, focus on being a great communicator and
• 02:50 being interesting and memorable any time you communicate.

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