WHAT IF CHARISMA COULD BE TAUGHT?
THE INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER
REVISED AND UPDATED
Finally, science and technology have taken charisma apart and turned it into an applied science: In controlled laboratory experiments, researchers can raise or lower people’s level of charisma as if they were turning a dial.
Long believed to be a fundamental, inborn quality– you either have it or you don’t– charisma is now revealed to be a set of behaviors which can be learned and perfected by anyone, in the office or on a Zoom call.
Becoming more charismatic doesn’t mean transforming your fundamental personality. It’s about adopting a series of specific practices that fit in with the personality you already have.
What you’ll find here is practical magic: unique knowledge, drawn from a variety of sciences, revealing what charisma really is and how it works. You’ll get both the insights and the techniques you need to apply this knowledge. The world will become your lab, and every person you meet, a chance to experiment.
NINE Things This Book Will Teach You
Charisma is a learnable skill, not an innate trait.
Anyone can learn to be charismatic by practicing specific behaviors and mindsets.Presence is the foundation of charisma.
Being fully engaged and attentive makes others feel important and creates a powerful connection.Warmth is key to building trust.
Power is signaled by confidence.
But you need to know how to avoid arrogance or aggressionCharisma is about combining presence, power, and warmth.
Having all three elements will make you magneticNonverbal communication is crucial.
Body language, eye contact, and facial expressions often speak louder than words.Managing internal state shapes your charisma.
Learn how to handle anxiety, self-doubt, and negative thoughtsVisualizations are one of the most effective ways to project charisma.
Charisma helps in leadership, persuasion, and relationships.
Developing charisma enhances your ability to inspire, influence, and connect with others.
MEET THE AUTHOROlivia Fox Cabane
is one of the world’s leading authorities on the science of charisma and the bestselling author of The Charisma Myth and The Net And The Butterfly, which have been translated into 36 languages.
Previously Director of Innovative Leadership for Stanford StartX, Olivia has lectured on charisma, leadership, and innovation at Harvard, Yale, MIT, the Marine War College and the United Nations.
She has been featured in media such as The New York Times, The Economist and The Wall Street Journal.Her clients include Deloitte, UBS, Google, Tiktok, and Airbnb.
As cofounder of the KindEarth.Tech Foundation, she supports foodtech’s most innovative companies for environmental sustainability.
Olivia is fluent in four languages and was the youngest person ever to have been appointed Foreign Trade Advisor to the French Government.
PRAISE FOR THE CHARISMA MYTH“The top book I’ve read all year.”
—Dr. Tina Seelig, Executive Director, Stanford Technology Ventures Program, Stanford University School of Engineering
“Cabane has done us a big favor. She’s woven solid science and engaging narrative into an instructive treatment of the role of charisma in leadership—a topic that (until now) we only poorly understood.”
—Robert B. Cialdini, author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
“Olivia Fox Cabane offers hands-on advice and a practical guide to humanizing leaders without compromising integrity or authority. She focused on the ‘it’ factors that can make a real difference.”
—Laura Lang, CEO, Time Inc.
“If you are interested in increasing your ability to be charismatic in your unique setting or employment, this book will give you direct skills to use.”
—Psychology Today
“The Charisma Myth is an easy read, effectively integrating stories and research, strategies and applications, techniques and practices.”
— New York Journal of Books
“Cabane has done a masterful job of pulling together scientific findings and personal insights to present a coherent and compelling view of charisma. This book is engaging, clear, and chock-full of wisdom, practical recommendations, and uncommonly good sense.”
—Dr. Stephen M. Kosslyn, Director, Stanford University Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
