Mahatma Gandhi, Barack Obama, Shah Rukh Khan — all people with charisma.
We know what the word implies, but it is difficult to pin down a discrete set of characteristics that confer this label. The same individual may be seen as highly charismatic by one person or group and as a total loser by someone else, Donald Trump being a good example.
What is it? The term charisma, translating to "gift" in Greek, was first defined by the German sociologist Max Weber as authority based on exceptionalism. It has long been regarded as a trait that confers personal advantage in social settings, particularly in politics.
Give it a number
Want to see how charismatic you are? Take what researchers call the, General Charisma Inventory. Try these 6 questions. Rate yourself on a scale from 1-5 for each, with 5 being the highest.
Ask yourself:
I am someone who… Rank your response on a scale of 1 to 5 (lowest to highest)
1) …has a presence in a room. (1-5)
2) …has the ability to influence people. (1-5)
3) …knows how to lead a group. (1-5)
4) …makes people feel comfortable (1-5)
5) …smiles at people often. (1-5)
6) …can get along with anyone. (1-5)
Add up your score. Then divide by 6.
If you have a 3.7 or higher, you’re more charismatic than the average person.
The first half of these questions have to do with influence, while the second half are about affability.
Up your "charm quotient"
Charismatic people are not born with transformative abilities; they are born with the potential to be so. When that potential is cultivated, the charismatic person becomes capable of drawing others to her through the force of her energy.
Tons of articles have been written on how to increase your charisma.
smiling,
using open body language,
expressing yourself in words people can relate to,
reading others emotions,
being authentic in your own, and
mirroring another’s body posture—sitting in the same position as they do and changing position to match theirs a minute or two after they do,
They get rewarded for non-rational reasons, for who they are, not just what they know. Their very real expression of positive feelings ignite positive feelings in those they encounter.
You can't fake it till you make it. Marc Brackett, of the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence, emphasises that interpersonal skills are a continuous learning process, suggesting that the essence of true charisma lies in a deep sensitivity to others' feelings and needs. Human warmth remains a unique, irreplaceable trait. Genuine human warmth requires humans.
"Vibe popes". Although often used to manipulate situations and individuals for personal agendas, some people can use it selflessly in social settings. Vibe popes are those who can use this gift to enhance group dynamics and create positive emotions during periods of increased social isolation, such as we witnessed during the COVID pandemic.
Is personality a fixed trait? Personality is a wil o'the wisp: A person’s actions in a given moment depend more on their situation than on some enduring essence of who that person is. Research suggests a very weak correlation in a given person between one behaviour and the next.
AI, with charisma?
Will this ineffable quality render it forever beyond the reach of machines like ChatGPT despite the hype of the Turing Test being passed? Can AI ever mimic people in this regard? It's getting close.
"RizzGPT": Bryan Chiang, a Stanford computer science student, created "rizzGPT," a combination of augmented reality and ChatGPT aimed at providing "real-time charisma" in conversations. However, the prototype struggled to demonstrate genuine charm, highlighting the complexity of replicating true charisma.
Charisma is a composite of how the speaker lives in their own skin; vocal style; mannerisms; sense of humour; but most importantly, the ability to convey to the audience that they really cares and is one of them.
Worth trying
🄽🄴🅆 A new study confirms that about 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise can lift your mood for up to 12 hours.
🄱🅄🅃... The mood benefits depend heavily on context, meaning and social connection. The benefits depend on:
who you’re with,
where you exercise, and
why. If you’re doing pushups alone in a garage, you’ll gain physical health, but not the same emotional boost as you would exercising with someone you enjoy, outdoors, or while listening to music.
🅂🄾... Add context that matters to you—friends, a setting you love, music, a meaningful purpose—to amplify the mental-health benefits of any workout.
● How a popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences The Conversation
🄽🄴🅆 A new study from the University of Colorado shows that erythritol, a popular sugar substitute used in many low-calorie and sugar-free foods, may damage the brain’s protective barrier. Lab experiments found it increased oxidative stress, reduced nitric oxide (which supports healthy blood vessels), and boosted clot-promoting proteins in brain blood vessel cells.
🄱🅄🅃... This evidence comes from cell studies, not human trials—so real-world health effects remain unclear.
🅂🄾... Until more research is done, scientists urge caution:
check ingredient labels,
limit erythritol where possible, and
consider more natural alternatives. The study highlights how seemingly harmless additives might have hidden long-term effects on brain and vascular health.
Might work
● How mothers supporting mothers can help fill the health care worker shortage gap and other barriers to care The Conversation
🄽🄴🅆 Peer support—experienced mothers helping new or expectant moms—can address mental‑health gaps created by shortages of professionals.
🄱🅄🅃... A lack of formal recognition, limited scientific study of peer‑led support, and barriers like stigma, cost, language and access are problems that need resolution.
🅂🄾... Structured peer‑support programs, where trained mentors deliver emotional care, practical guidance, and connect mothers to clinical services can be of good value in underserved communities. These programs are scalable, culturally sensitive, and reduce pressure on the existing healthcare workforce.
🄽🄴🅆 A series of studies highlight that eating a small daily amount of dark chocolate can:
improve heart health (lowering blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, cardiovascular and stroke risk),
boost thinking and memory, and
enhance mood through brain‑stimulating compounds like phenylethylamine.
🄱🅄🅃... All these studies were observational—not proving cause-and-effect. Benefits depend on:
chocolate quality (especially cocoa percentage - 60% or more) and
portion control - half an ounce.
🅂🄾... A strategic daily indulgence can be added as part of a balanced, planned diet to gain benefits without excess calories or sugar.
● Healthy heart habits have huge halo effect (Life’s Simple 7) New Atlas
🄽🄴🅆 A global review over the past decade shows that following the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7” — diet, exercise, not smoking, healthy BMI, normal blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar—does far more than protect your heart. It also cuts the risk of:
dementia,
cancer,
kidney disease,
depression, and
early death.
🄱🅄🅃... Yet fewer than 4% meet all seven “ideal” goals, with diet being the least commonly achieved.
🅂🄾... Modest improvements—like moving from poor to moderate in just one metric—can lower heart disease risk by 20–30%. Even small gains help. The goal should be aiming for as many “ideal” metrics as possible for wide‑ranging health benefits.
Hmm...
● Why ambition is misunderstood—and how to reclaim it Fast Company
🄽🄾🅆 Ambition is often seen as relentless drive to succeed at any cost. This is a popular misunderstanding that needs a better look.
🄱🅄🅃... “Painful ambition” springs from core wounds, harms well‑being, relationships and upholds unfair systems. Many don’t realise ambition can also be healthy and purpose‑driven.
🅂🄾... Ambition needs to be redefined as a neutral force. There is a difference between painful ambition (chasing approval or dominance) and “purposeful ambition” that builds collaboration, honors identity, and drives impact. The advice is to use ambition in ways that nurture you and benefit others. It flourishes when anchored in personal purpose and natural gifts.
● Why AI coaching works (and often works better) Fast Company
🄽🄾🅆 AI coaching is reshaping how people grow at work. It is judgment‑free support that’s available anytime. Research shows users feel more comfortable being honest with AI, sharing fears or doubts they might hide from human coaches, unlocking deeper insight.
🄱🅄🅃... AI lacks emotional nuance, empathy and the strategic thinking that human coaches bring—it can’t fully replicate human intuition or moral judgement.
🅂🄾... AI coaches must be seen as a complement rather than replacement: use AI for scalable, consistent guidance and initial support, but rely on human coaches when deeper understanding, relational nuance and ethical complexity matter.
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