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How to Be Charismatic: A Practical Guide (W/ Examples)

Lucio Buffalmano
June 29, 2018

Charismatic people are natural leaders who can easily gather a following of ardent supporters and followers.

Being able to switch on charisma at will is a wonderful skill that will make you more powerful, more liked and more of a leader.

This article will provide you with traits and examples of charismatic people and provide you an how to guide on how to become more charismatic.

If you lead people, charisma always helps

What’s Charisma

Charisma is a presence that excites us.

Charismatic people have something that most other people don’t have. Something they don’t have and wish they had.
We look up to charismatic people and we can’t resist but following them and idolizing them.

It’s that looking up to the them that gives charismatic men a strong social power.

Should You Try to Be Charismatic?

Short answer:

Absolutely yes.

Most people would gain from learning to be more charismatic.

Many traits of the charismatic men are indeed high quality traits that will make you an overall better person.
Confidence, conviction, a vision and a WHY in life, for example, are all high quality traits that will also make people more charismatic.
And eloquence, the ability to change people’s states and persuade others are crucial life skills which also happen to be charismatic traits.

So let’s see how to do just that.

How to Be Charismatic

Here are 11 steps to be more charismatic:

#1. Get a Life Purpose

Have something you believe in.

A goal you’re moving towards, a vision you believe in, a change you want to see in the world.

This is a world of lost souls looking for a master. And when you know where you’re going people will instinctively want to follow you.

Even if you’re not yet clear about the steps, the vision and drive are the most important aspects.
Where you’re going matter less than having a strong cause, an ideal or a vision you communicate passionately about.

Just look at Greta Thumberg.
She knows sh*t about climate change, but she communicates with purpose and passion and the sheep follow her.

#2. Show Uncompromising Saintliness

Most people pay lip service to their values.

They say they respect religion, values, honor, etc., but everyone knows it’s just words because, well… That’s life.

And that’s a great opportunity for those who actually walk the talk.
The few who actually honor their values no matter what impose their bigger than life presence on the massess of hot hair producers.

And we look up to them.

By putting values and tradition above the baseness of money, The Godfather shows the trait of charismatic saintliness.

#3. Go to the Extreme – And Stay There

Most people compromise, change their mind, say one thing and do another, show a face in public and another in private.

It’s part of life, part of keeping an even keel and staying afloat. We come to accept it as simply how it is.

But deep down we admire the people who go on the extreme -and stay there no matter what-. They have guts, we think.
And especially in times of uncertainty and turmoil extremists  gather a strong crowd of followers.

Girolamo Savonarola, in the picture, was a dangerously charismatic extremist.
With religious fervor and uncompromising puritanical zeal he set out to undo years of enlightenment in the world capital of enlightenment: Florence.
And with the zealot that only the most charismatic men can muster, he gathered a crowd of puritanic idiots to help in the dirty job.

He lacked the strategic oversight to understand when to stop and eventually was executed. But he did manage to stir much discontent and to burn and destroy much art before it came his turn to burn (dark pun).

#4. Be Eloquent

Charismatic leaders are masters in using the demonic power of words to elevate, incite, stir anger or to simply beat their opponents into (verbal) submission.

A good  example of eloquence in the service of charisma is Jordan Peterson, author of The 12 Rules of Life:

Jordan Peterson gathered a huge following becuase he speaks well, with passion, and looks like he breathes lives into his deep well of knowledge.

#5. Speak With Passion

Eloquence is nice, but by itself it’s just words.

Eloquence by itself make you an academic. But eloquence with passion, purpose and direction, now that makes you a charismatic leader instead.

This is an example of impassioned speech from the movie Braveheart:

Many charismatic men have led other gullible men to their own death.

#6. Speak With Conviction

Most people are constantly in doubt.

They don’t know if they’ll manage, they don’t know what they will do with their life… And they don’t know what they will do later today.

Not the charismatic.
The charismatic has an air of eternal confidence and certitude.
And it’s frankly difficult not to be swept away by the mixture of passion and conviction of some of the most charismatic men in history.

Sometimes they appeal to nothing concrete.
They call up in arms for honor, “empires”, values… And even peace (!). But they say it so convincingly passionately that, deep down, we all admire them and want to be on their side.

Benito Mussolini: The keyword is one and one only. Winning. And we will win.

Here’s another great quote from Marshall McLuhan that perfectly sums up the convinced charismatic man:

I may be wrong, but I’m never in doubt.

Reverse of The Law:

Some charismatic people will speak with conviction even when they have no idea what they’re talking about.

However, that cannot last long.
If people get to know you well and you keep talking nonsense, your charisma will quickly fade over time.

#7. Show Muscles When Needed

Pavid, fearful men are not charismatic.

Just think about it:

Would you admire and follow anyone if they withdrew when they’re needed the most?

Probably not, because we want out leader to show strength when strength is needed.
When the chips must fall on the table, you must show your strength and resolve to make things happen.

People admire and follow those who are in charge. And as Machiavelli said, being feared is better than being loved. Which is especially true in moments of crisis.

Ben Affleck is not afraid of laying down the law in Boiler Room:

#8. Display Fearlessness

A step above and beyond muscular leadership is showing fearlessness in the face of danger.

Al Pacino in Scarface can be a good example of fearlessness.

#9. Be Disinhibited

We all fall conventions, afraid of being judged and ridiculed.

Not the most charismatic men among us.
They are who they are and go for what they want without caring about what everyone else thinks.
And that’s supremely attractive.

#10. Play Vulnerability Well

We all put on a mask in public.
We try to hide our emotions, to show ourselves stronger, smarter and better than we really think we are.
So when someone can show himself (figuratively) naked in front of an audience it impresses us all.

Dropping the mask can be a sign of strength, and it’s also a sign that we are possibly more emotional than rational.
And again, it’s emotions that appeal us the strongest.

Vulnerability also includes admitting and fessing up to your shortcomings without fears.
Look at Bush doing it here:

Instead of listening, pretending of knowing or agreeing, Bush admits he doesn’t know.
And implies he doesn’t care.
He’s got other priorities, we imagine, and couldn’t care less about the German healthcare system.
Very charismatic in a slightly asshol-ish way.

Reversal of The Law

Vulnerability can be a double-edge sword for the charismatic leader.
People want to believe the charismatc leader to be a sort of God, so you must be careful.

Vulnerability in showing anger and emotions, especially for past events, is OK if you frame it as your driving force.
But vulnerability as a show of weakness is a no-no.
Also read “vulnerability is not power“.

#11. Be Adventurous

Some of the most charismatic characters show a daredevil side, a rebellious streak.

They live life their own way, sometimes even going against the grain of society.

That’s exactly what makes Han Solo, a Stars Wars character, the most likeable and charismatic man in the trilogy:

Never tell me the odds

LOL, so typical Hollywood :). But it shows the adventurous spirit combating against “the timid bore of numbers and rationality”.

Charismatic Men in History

History is peppered of charismatic men.

Most dictators are charismatic men. They often take the helm of nations by riding the waves of discontent, rebellion or strong emotions.

They sometimes make up enemies so they can whip the crowd into a frenzy by pointing their fingers at something else.
They will ride that growing wave and as everyone is taken over by emotions, very few will realize how poorly equipped they are to actually lead a country.
For Hitler the enemies were Jews, for Lenin it was the rich capitalists oppressing the poor.
Let’s hope we’ll all be smart enough to recognize the next dangerous charismatic man before it’s too late…

Some other examples of charismatic during histories:

  • Joan of Arc
  • Rasputin
  • Robespierre
  • Benito Mussolini

Dangers of Extreme Charismatic Leadership

Charisma can turn on you.

Robert Greene in The Art of Seduction uses the chilling example of Robespierre’s own death as an example of the dangers of extreme charisma in the political arena.

Robespierre rode a wave of highly emotional rebellion that turned nasty with the reign of terror.
Eventually Robespierre kept the heat of the terror on for way too long when the population wanted to go back to normal life. And in a few months he went from revered charismatic leader to everyone turning against him.

Charisma is indeed as volatile as the emotions it creates, says Greene.
The charismatic man often wins love and support by barging into a difficult situation as the savior. He provides a strong guidance and helps everyone right through the turmoil.

But once the people start feeling more secure or feel the times are changing, charisma is less needed and the charismatic man a thing of the past.
Some charismatic will try to keep the flames of danger and risk ablaze just to stay in power. Or because they don’t know any better or what else they can do.
But people will tire of it and at the first sign of weakness will turn on you.

Robert Greene says you should then turn the heat lower when the adventure is over and slowly settle into a more boring routine.
People will admire your self control and adaptability if done correctly.

The alternative is having an army to prop yourself in power, which you will need as charismatics tend to make quite a few enemies.

Don’t Follow Charismatic Leaders

Once the dust settles charismatic leaders and rulers tend to leave a mess behind with their wild personalities.

The one who follows after a charismatic is left with a big clean up to do. Most people fail to understand how the mess was created in the first place though.
They miss the charismatic leader and blame the successor for the problems.

To avoid this situation Robert Greene suggests instead going in a completely new direction.
In the 48 Laws of Power he explains how Truman escaped that way the charismatic curse of Theodore Roosevelt.

Charisma and Social Skills

While to be charming it’s imperative that you are socially skilled, people’s skills is not a necessary requirement to be charismatic.

Indeed a charismatic man might also draw more power from being asocial. That communicates that you are all too consumed about your art, passion or mission to even care about people.

However, social skills and understanding of social dynamic is what would ultimately allow you to stay in power (or to stay popular).

If Robespierre and Rasputin had been more socially skilled for example they would have seen the writing on the wall and adapted their strategies.
But they were too self absorbed and socially unaware to notice…

Why do People Follow Charismatic Leaders?

Charismatic leaders tend to hog all the power.

So why people follow them?

Haslam in the seminal book “The New Psychology of Leadership” says that:

  • In times of crisis people look at magical-looking leaders to solve unsolvable problems 
  • Followers go after charismatic leaders to fend off a sense of hopelessness
  • Followers can relinquish the burden of responsibility at a time when they just can’t seem able to cope

People are so looking for a figure who projects an aura of certainty in uncertain times that we even help would-be leaders to convince us that yes, they are the asnwer to all our problems.

Lipman-Blumen says that, in the process, we even push charismatic leaders to believe in their own infallibility.
Until, eventually, reality catches up with us all.

But by then, lots of damage might have been done…

As Haslam concludes:

The notion of the leader as the hero is bad for leaders, it is bad for followers, but, most of all, it is bad for the group.

Charisma Is NOT Loudness

Finally, there is a lot of misunderstanding about charisma.

Some people tend to confuse charisma with loudness, over-the-top behavior and, generally attention-seeking behavior.

A lout man might be charismatic, but he might also be un-charismatically obnoxious.
And a quiet man can be charismatic.

To better understand the difference, check out the Charisma University review and the course “Social Power” on this website.

SUMMARY

Charismatic men are natural born leaders.

People look up to the them because they possess strong qualities and convictions that they wished they had themselves.

In this article we saw the traits of charisma, the dangers of charisma and how to be charismatic without any downside.

TheRedArchive is an archive of Red Pill content, including various subreddits and blogs. This post has been archived from the blog The Power Moves.

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Post Information
Title How to Be Charismatic: A Practical Guide (W/ Examples)
Author Lucio Buffalmano
Date June 29, 2018 11:59 PM UTC (5 years ago)
Blog The Power Moves
Archive Link https://theredarchive.com/blog/The-Power-Moves/how-to-be-charismatic-a-practical-guide-w-examples.23705
https://theredarchive.com/blog/23705
Original Link https://thepowermoves.com/how-to-be-charismatic/
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