Why some people have charisma… and why some don’t
6 Apr 2026 · 0 min
0:29
Vanessa Van Edwards breaks down charisma as warmth plus competence. Charismatic people answer two questions fast: can you trust me, and can I do the job. That's it.
Vanessa Van Edwards breaks down charisma as warmth plus competence. Charismatic people answer two questions fast: can you trust me, and can I do the job. That's it.
I'm a behavior researcher, and this is the exact formula for charisma based on science. What is charisma? Charisma is actually a formula. It's a blend of two things: warmth and competence. First, you want to signal warmth. You can trust me, you can like me, you can open up to me. But you also want to signal competence. In this way, charismatic people answer two basic questions: can I trust you, and can I rely on you? The faster you answer those questions, the more charismatic you are. Want to learn how to be more authentically warm and competent? Join my advanced class, People School. I'd love to see you there.
