👿 Is Charisma Good or Evil?

Learn if charisma is a good or evil trait in leaders

Hello there! 👋

I hope you have been having a fantastic week full of charismatic moments.

This week I was thinking about a podcast I was a guest on, where the host asked me:

Is charisma good or evil?

You can listen to my podcast below:

It really go me thinking because you can look throughout history and see charismatic people who were good and evil and so I wanted to address it in this newsletter.

The Reputation of Charisma

The reason people ask “Is Charisma Good or Evil” is because of how charisma is portrayed in the media. When we watch political debates, the more charismatic or persuasive politician will be described as using charisma to pull the wool over the eyes of his audience. However, when you are watching James Bond smooth-talk his way out of danger, people will be quick to acknowledge that this is romantic and heroic. Charisma is just a skill and, therefore, it is the morals of the individual who control how that skill is being used.

The Dark Side of Charisma

Throughout history, we have certainly seen the dark side of charisma, from cult leaders and dictators to egotistical office managers and sleazy salesmen. Here are a few things to look out for when someone is trying to use charisma for evil:

• Inauthenticity – Humans are really good lie detectors. A charismatic person will genuinely use their soft skills. If you get the feeling that the person is inauthentic, then that is a red flag that they are using the techniques for malicious gain.

• Manipulation – If you feel like you are being coerced into doing something that does not align with your values, then you could be manipulated. There is a fine line between persuasion, influencing, and manipulating. You have to see the signs and act accordingly.

• Controlling – Charisma is not about controlling someone; however, the techniques are very similar. Asking yourself why the person is doing this and evaluating how you feel about their intentions will help you decide if this person is charismatic with positive intentions or an evil controller.

Traits of ‘Good’ Charisma

Charisma can sometimes be seen as an abstract concept; however, you have to understand that charisma is just a range of soft skills that, when used, create this concept of charisma in a person. Let’s look at some of the key components of positive charisma:

• Active listening

• Storytelling

• Building rapport

• Creating a good first impression

• Showcasing leadership

• Speaking with confidence

• Maintaining deep conversations

• Persuasive language

You can continue reading my conclusion on the debate “Is charisma good or evil” then you can read my blog post below:

It’s been great sharing my thoughts with you all!

Speak to you next week!

Sebastian from Art of Charisma