Olivia Fox Cabane: The Charisma Myth

Olivia Fox Cabane is one of the world’s leading authorities on the science of charisma and the bestselling author of The Charisma Myth, which has been translated into 27 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 The New York Times, The Economist, and The Wall Street Journal and has recently released the revised version of The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism (Amazon, Bookshop)*.

Charisma. We all notice leaders who’ve got it. Many of us wish we had more of it. Good news though – like so many leadership skills we talk about on this podcast, you can get better at it. In this conversation, Olivia and I explore how almost anyone can improve their charisma.

Key Points

Charisma is a skill that you can learn and practice.
While some people have natural strengths for charisma more so than others, people are not simply born charismatic. Many just start young.
You don’t have to be naturally outgoing. You can be a very charismatic introvert.
Presence + Power + Warmth = Charisma
Power is the “Can you move mountains for me?” question. Warmth is the “Would you want to move them for me?” question. Presence is the “Are you aware of which mountains I need moved?” question.
A small amount of improvement can make a big difference on how you are perceived.

Three quick tips to improve your charisma:

Lower the intonation of your voice at the end of your sentences.
Reduce how quickly and how often you nod.
Pause for two full seconds before you speak.

Resources Mentioned

The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism by Olivia Fox Cabane (Amazon, Bookshop)*

Interview Notes

Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).

Six Ways to Recover From a Bad First Impression, with John Corcoran (episode 169)
The Way to Make Sense to Others, with Tom Henschel (episode 518)
How to Make a Better Impression on Camera, with Mark Bowden (episode 643)

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797: How to Improve Your Charisma, with Olivia Fox Cabane

Coaching for Leaders

797: How to Improve Your Charisma, with Olivia Fox Cabane