As a communication professor, speaker, and author, I was recently thinking about charismatic personalities, and whether or not charisma as a communication trait can be learned and taught. For the purpose of this post, I define the communication of charisma as, "the magnetic connection of personalities through persuasion."

Most people think of charm as being equal to charisma: someone that can smile, be smooth and sweep them off their feet. In fact, the thesaurus uses charm as a synonym for charisma. And, it is true that some people are more charming in their use of charisma, Robin Hood or Bill Clinton for example; Hitler and Gandhi had charisma, yet they were not charming. Each of these people displayed their charismatic personalities in different ways, and they were able to connect with people through persuasive reasoning and magnetically cause them to follow their individual causes.

When it's broken down to its most raw elements, charisma is composed of three ingredients: power, passion and purpose.

Power is the draw that people have toward a charismatic personality that adds to the persuasive potential of the person. Now, charismatic power contains three components. In order to have power, a charismatic person must maintain a platform from which to speak or send their message. The more platforms accessible to a person, the more power potential is created. The second component is the traditional, persuasive Greek-defined concept of ethos. Ethos is defining the persuasive quality of something by actions. In other words, let your actions take the lead. Society's idiom, "Actions speak louder than words," defines the concept of ethos. The final component of charismatic power is humility, strangely enough. Humility is the key to maintaining charismatic power over a period of time. Humility combines with the concept of ethos in a way that lets people see your actions and recognize your humility in them, creating a truth of purpose that is quite persuasive. Humility can't be faked though. Humility must be genuine.

Passion is the single-minded focus on one issue or platform. Passion creates the spark that keeps a charismatic person emotionally charged and moving forward. Passion cannot be left out of control however, because passion has a power of its own. Passion must remain transparent. Transparency allows others observing a charismatic person to decide with veracity if they are the "real deal." Passion is an emotional component and fits into the Greek-defined concept of pathos (in traditional persuasive studies). Charismatic people know how to link their passion to an emotional experience that others have had, creating a connection and an emotional draw to the passion of the charismatic person.

Purpose is the final ingredient of the charismatic triangle. A charismatic person is driven by a purpose-defined life. It is often the element that leads them to platform opportunities. It is a decision/goal decided in the past that propels them into their future. Purpose must be driven honestly though. Nothing will turn followers against one quicker than the discovery of an ulterior motive. Just ask Bernie Madoff. Purpose is a logic component. The Greek philosophers defined the concept of logos as a logical, thought-out, reasoned way of planning. Most people probably don't think of charismatic people as having a purpose. But, it is critical to be successfully charismatic over a period of time. People need to feel like they are part of something greater. So if you can demonstrate how they are purposed in the overall plan, they will more often follow along to help reach the goal.

So you want to increase your charismatic potential?

Begin by focusing on how the three ingredients of power, passion, and purpose combine in a synergistic way.

Charisma does not exist in a vacuum. It must be combined with the use of other communication skills to be truly effective.

But smiling and being smooth never hurt.