You know the one. How could you not? Like ignoring the brightest star in the sky, penetrating the atmosphere no matter the forecast. You know the moment that person walks into the room, because there is a collective shift in attention. That person becomes the focal point of the room. The nucleus.
The Meriam-Webster Dictionary defines charisma as “a special magnetic charm or appeal.” But what does that mean?
The charismatic possesses a unique trait, an ability to capture an individual’s attention in such a way that a profound connection is interpreted by the receiver. Eye contact that feels as if that gaze reaches the very soul. An air of attentiveness that makes the receiver feel as if they are the only person in the room, even if they are amidst thousands. Personality that makes the words arrive like poetry.
These nuclei share a common trait, but charasmatics couldn’t be more different from each other and come in a multitude of variations that make the intent all the more difficult to determine. Some deliver sincerity, a true desire to touch the world and to soak in the joy of their actions – the storyteller, the actor, the activist. Others seek worldly personal gains through that hypnotic aptitude – the litigator, the salesman, the grifter. Then there are those who feed on the adoration, the manipulation, centered purely on self with no capacity for conscience – the psychopath.
Which charismatic has enchanted you?