The Charisma Myth
How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism
By: Olivia Fox Cabane
Published: March 29, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1591844568
ISBN-13: 978-1591844563
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin
"Contrary to popular belief, people are not simply born charismatic - innately magnetic from birth. If charisma were an inherent attribute, charismatic people would always be captivating, and that's just not the case", writes keynote speaker and executive consultant Olivia Fox Cabane, in her very practical and groundbreaking book The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism. The author describes how charismatic people are not born that way, but learned the attributes and behaviors of charisma, making those developed skills appear second nature.
Olivia Fox Cabane recognizes that people who are deemed to be charismatic are thought to behave magnetically at all times. The author demonstrates that is not the case with personal attraction at all. Instead, people who behave in a charismatic manner actually learned the skills, behaviors, and actions from a very early age. Olivia Fox Cabane points out that if highly magnetic leaders and celebrities could learn the attributes of the charismatic individual, that anyone else can develop those skills too. The author presents a complete overview of the types of charismatic person, and shares the behaviors and actions that will enhance a person's own abilities to become magnetic and noticed in all areas of their lives. With the concept of charisma as a learned skill in place, Olivia Fox Cabane provides the details for adding those abilities to one's own public behavior.
Olivia Fox Cabane (photo left) deconstructs the entire concept of charisma and what it means for the individual. The author presents the basic components of charisma as simply different aspects of a person's behavior. She points out what charisma really is in the overall personality of a person. The author stresses that the most effective form of learned charismatic behavior is that which is in harmony with the individual's own personality traits. Olivia Fox Cabane offers advice and hands on exercises for developing charisma that fits into an individual's already existing characteristics.
Olivia Fox Cabane points out that the most effective charisma is that which is part of a person's existing personality. With that concept in mind, the techniques and actions of a magnetic personality are simply enhancements and refinements of already existing personal traits. The author shares four styles of charisma and recommends that the one most closely related to one's own personality be studied, practiced, and added to the personal leadership tool kit. At the same time, Olivia Fox Cabane shares the strengths, weaknesses, and impressions created by each style. The four charismatic styles are as follows:
* Focus charisma: Presence and confidence
* Visionary charisma: Belief and confidence
* Kindness charisma: Warmth and confidence
* Authority charisma: Status and confidence
For me, the power of the book is how Olivia Fox Cabane combines a compelling analysis and breakdown of the key elements of charisma, with practical and easy to understand advice and exercises for developing one's own charisma. Instead of taking the drastic step of attempting the perhaps impossible task of remaking one's own personality, the author recommends choosing the charisma style that dovetails best with that personality. Olivia Fox Cabane demonstrates the importance of charisma for leadership and career success. At the same time, she provides evidence that charisma is valuable in personal and family life as well. Along the way, the author dispels the most frequently encountered myths and misunderstanding surrounding the concept of charisma, what it is, and how it works.
The author presents the behavioral science based techniques for developing personal charisma skills in understandable chapters, complete with exercises and methods for practicing and improving the skills. The book also contains very useful additional chapters and sections for further study and enhancement of charismatic abilities. Olivia Fox Cabane also provides examples of well known people who utilized the four different charismatic styles successfully, as illustrations of how each style blends and fits into the already existing personality. The author also describes the potential downsides and problems of charisma, and how to overcome them.
I highly recommend the comprehensive and leadership boosting book The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism by Olivia Fox Cabane, to anyone seeking an easily approachable and engaging guide to developing their own charismatic skills. This book will not only improve your own leadership abilities, but the same techniques can be applied to entire organizations to empower employees and boost their job performance as well.
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