Are You Charismatic? Take the Quiz

Many people believe that charisma is something we are born with, like a gift from the gods that is bestowed upon the lucky few. Recent studies, however, have discovered that charisma is actually a learned art, and those that naturally show it actually learned it at a very young age.

In her book, The Charisma Myth, author Olivia Fox Cabane talks about the three pillars that make up charisma: Presence, Power and Warmth. All three elements need to be active in a charismatic person.

The power of charisma comes down to a simple concept: It is not how others feel about you; it is about how you make others feel about themselves.

Imagine someone charismatic, whether it’s a celebrity, friend or co-worker. What draws you to this person? Is it because they’re the smartest person you know, the best looking, or is it because you feel good when you are around them or hear them speak?

People who possess this power naturally carry a certain amount of gravitas through life, making it easier to step into leadership roles, motivate others and ultimately become successful. But the things that make them charismatic can be broken down into physical and mental actions that almost any one of us can understand and learn.

In fact, MIT researchers were able to predict with 87% accuracy who would win a business-plan competition simply by using tone of voice and other social signals that relate to charisma, without hearing or seeing any presentation.

The Charisma Quiz

Take the quiz below to find out how charismatic you are, then return to this article to read through the quiz results for tips on improving your charisma, and whether charisma is really all it’s cracked up to be. Some of the findings may surprise you.

TAKE THE CHARISMA QUIZ HERE

www.onlineassessmenttool.com

Learn More About Your Charisma Quiz Results

Here’s what the results page will look like:

75–100% — Your Charisma Level is High

You rate high in charisma, which means you share the same charismatic qualities as people like Marilyn Monroe and Bill Clinton.

The good news is you possess presence, warmth and power. People tend to gravitate to you and look to you for leadership. Your words carry a certain weight that affects how people feel, not just about you, but also about themselves. Your charisma makes you persuasive, influential and inspiring.

The bad news is your high level of charisma can have real consequences for you. Charismatic people can often get trapped in what is called the “Superman Effect,” which can have several downsides.

1. Because you are seen as a leader, you are seen as special or superhuman. This can often turn into isolation and loneliness as those around you stop relating to you on a personal level. It will be harder to find honest advice.
2. You will be held to higher standards. Just like CEOs and celebrities, people will expect more from you and be more likely to ask you for help, which can put you under a lot of pressure.
3. When used in the right way, your charisma can help you accomplish great things and make a positive impact on people’s lives. However, charisma can also be used to manipulate others, rather than to help them. Doing this is not only unethical; it will also lead people to mistrust you and can cause real damage to everyone around you.
4. People may start to envy you. There will always be people that will resent you for attracting attention, especially if it’s paired with success. They may even try to sabotage you. Remember to give others credit for their contribution in your success and to encourage others to succeed.

40–75% — Your Charisma Level is Medium

You possess some charismatic qualities, but not all of them are fully developed. The good news is that if you’re interested in becoming more charismatic, these skills can be learned and improved upon. Try some of these simple tricks:

1. Look people in the eyes when having a conversation with them. This will improve your presence and warmth.
2. Be present, and don’t get distracted. If you have trouble being attentive when someone is speaking to you, focus on the feeling in your toes for a split second, then return to the conversation. This makes your brain scan your physical body, which brings your presence back to the present moment.
3. Understand that negative thoughts are normal. Up to 80% of the population have been in situations where they feel they do not belong or are not good enough to be there. Understand this is a normal feeling and your negative thoughts are not reality; they are simply thoughts that can be changed and erased.
4. Negate any negative thoughts from your mind. If you’re uncomfortable or stressed, imagine a wonderful experience or recall a pleasant memory. It can be anything: a movie, your pet, etc. If someone else makes you upset, use empathy, even if you have to imagine that something bad happened to them that morning or they are going through hard times. Anything to make you feel better about that person.
5. Up your energy level. People are attracted to someone who is enthusiastic and full of life. Practice martial arts, dance or yoga, anything that will help you command the space around you and give you energy.

0–40% — Your Charisma Level is Low

You score low on charisma, which means you are not comfortable being the center of attention. If you have no desire to improve your personal charisma, it is perfectly okay. Charisma is neither a sign of intelligence nor a predictor of success.

In fact, in an MIT study of 100-year-old European corporations, less charismatic leaders were more effective than highly charismatic leaders. Why? Because charismatic leaders have an easier time persuading others to follow their course of action. The problem is, when that course of action is wrong, the company will find itself quickly going in the wrong direction.

Instead, the study found that a combination of intelligence and conservatism proved to be much more effective. Leaders that took the time to listen and learn about their companies and their industry had a greater level of successfully leading their organizations.

If, on the other hand, you would like to improve your personal charisma, focus on these general rules:

1. Be as self-confident as possible. Optimism about yourself can go a long way to making you more charismatic. At the very least, do not talk about your issues in the workplace or in a setting where your impression matters. If you need help with personal things, seek help either from friends, family or professionals.
2. In conversation and in social settings, be careful when using humor. Don’t be too self-deprecating, and stay away from bad jokes. Instead, be tuned in with current events and with what is going on around you. It is better to give a compliment and know an interesting fact than to try to make fun of yourself.
3. Don’t ever fake a smile. People will be able to tell right away. Instead, no matter what you look like or how you feel, own the space around you by being open and approachable.
4. Don’t have an ego during a conversation. If you are an introvert, it is much better to learn to ask great questions than to learn to speak about yourself for ten minutes straight.
5. Following from the last point, be an active listener. You’ll be amazed how attractive you will be when you ask a few questions and actively listen to what people have to say.

Sources:

Why Good Leaders Don’t Need Charisma http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/why-good-leaders-dont-need-charisma/

5 Qualities of Charismatic People. How Many Do You Have?http://www.forbes.com/sites/deniserestauri/2012/05/03/5-qualities-of-charismatic-people-how-many-do-you-have/

Superman Effect http://spitfireteam.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/02/LeadershipExcellence.pdf

“We Can Measure the Power of Charisma” by Alex “Sandy” Pentland. Harvard Business Review, January-February 2010. Pg. 34–35

Originally published at www.docstoc.com. (r.i.p)