I attended a function over the weekend where children were sharing personal life stories. There were several speakers at this event, ranging from children as young as 10 years old to teenagers in their senior year.

What struck me the most was this 16-year-old boy. His story was nothing extraordinary but the audience was glued to their seats eagerly listening to what he was saying. It dawned on me, this boy has what they call the “it” factor. He had a certain kind of charisma that drew people to what he was saying.

I would say that having charisma is a gift. Not everyone has the ability to create a connection with people from all walks of life and only people with charisma can do that.

Charismatic people can charm, attract and influence people around them. They exude positive energy that is magnetic. What best describes a person with charisma? Confident, genuine, a smiling face, a positive attitude and friendly.

I was once asked if charisma and being charming are one and the same. People have different views on this. Others see it as two different things. Some described “charm” as a form of attraction while they refer to “charisma” as a form of influence.

For me, a charismatic person is a charming person. Charisma is the root, the charm is the branch. The main trait that I see common in these two is genuineness. No one can exude charisma if they are not genuine. I find people with charisma to be transparent. What you see is what you get, and that is what makes people adore them. No pretensions. People can easily detect the sincerity in their actions. One’s charisma and charm emanate because they are truthful in their actions, words and how they interact with people. Charismatic and charming people are able to capture the admiration of others because they do not keep a facade and that is what makes them well loved. The charm and charisma a person possess is the magic inside them.

The essential element in personal magnetism is a consuming sincerity–an overwhelming faith in the importance of the work that one has to do.” –Bruce Barton