"Charisma is not a gift, it's a tool."

The lessons Marilyn Monroe can teach leaders of today...

Marilyn Monroe is possibly one of the most famous women that has ever lived.  Born in 1926, she became a movie star, sex symbol and singer, and in the 1950s was the most marketable Hollywood star the World had ever seen.  Everyone knew Marilyn Monroe.  She couldn't walk down the street without being hounded by photographers and fans, and often found herself in scary situations trying to escape big crowds.

As explained in the book The Charisma Myth, one day in 1955, Marilyn took her photographer and magazine editor to the busy New York City Subway to prove a point. She wanted to show them that by simply changing her body language, she could be either Marilyn Monroe, or Norma Jeane Mortenson, the quiet unassuming woman she was born as.  Walking through and riding the subway, she was completely unnoticed as Norma, but she resurfaced onto the busy streets of New York and became Marilyn.  There were no grand gestures, she just fluffed up her hair and struck a pose, and within seconds was engulfed by fans.

Whilst Marilyn Monroe maybe the quintessential example of someone born with charisma, which she honed into her legendary personal brand, contrary to popular belief people are not simply born with an inherent aura and charismatic way about them.  These traits are learned behaviours that are the result of specific non-verbal cue's such as eye contact, smiling, using hands to communicate, and listening.  Linking these in with authenticity and the three most crucial elements of charisma; presence, power and warmth, with a bit of practice, you have a recipe to exude charisma and build your own personal brand.