David Beckham’s charisma is in a league of its own (did you see what I did there?). David Beckham is quickly shaping his personal brand as the cool, charming British man that others should see as an example of what charisma looks like. While his style definitely adds to his charisma, he also speaks intentionally, shows vulnerability, exudes warmth, and humility. Now that he has been knighted as ‘Sir David Beckham, ’ it’s the best opportunity to break down his amazing charm.
David Beckhams Charisma
When considering David Beckham’s charisma, you have to look at his tone, words, and body language. Here are the key components of his charisma:
- Warmth
- Soft Spoken
- Emotional Vulnerability
- Gentle humour
Warmth
Warmth is an essential element to charisma; in Olivia Fox’s book The Charisma Myth, she highlights the importance of this quality as we gravitate to those who are positive and happy. David Beckham has created his own style of warmth with gentle smiles and open body language that makes him approachable and likeable.
A study conducted by Amy J.C. Cuddy found that warmth and competence are essential in the professional environment. Within the first few seconds of meeting someone, we are trying to understand if this person is warm and competent. the reason why we do this is back to our basic survival instincts as humans. Our survival is based on whether or not we can trust the person in front of us, determining if they are a ‘friend or foe’. Warmth is shown in non-verbal cues such as smiling, open body language and sense of humour.
Take a look at this Warmth/Competent Index – Especially for you Office lovers
We can see here how individuals on the warmth/competent index can be perceived differently.
Example
lets take a look at two examples, one will be David Beckham and the other is one of his teammates, Roy Keane:
In your opinion, who looks more warm and approachable, who would you like to know more about, and who would you like to speak to?
Soft Spoken
Part of David Beckham’s cool, suave demeanour is down to the way he speaks. In Public Speaking training, there is a big focus on projecting your voice, speaking with confidence and assertiveness. what makes David Beckham so charismatic is the subtle and articulate way he speaks.
Example
In this example, David is discussing his experience of making his Netflix documentary ‘BECKHAM’, and you can see that he is not trying to dominate, project or assert himself. He is being very calm, intentional with his words, speaking slowly with pauses.
Emotional Vulnerability
Being vulnerable with others can be difficult; often, people associate being vulnerable with weakness. When you imagine a leader, you may think of a strong, assertive, or authoritative but actually being vulnerable makes you significantly more effective. David Beckham is comfortable with showing his vulnerability, which makes him more likeable.
Celebrities like David Beckham create strong parasocial bonds, which are deep emotional connections people have with media personalities. Fans of a celebrity can feel like they are friends with them, even having never met or spoken to them.
Showing vulnerability helps to create an emotional connection with someone; discussing challenges, goals, fears, woes, and personal issues can help create this bond. It makes David far more relatable and humanises him, making him feel like a friend to us, rather than a huge celebrity.
Example
David has had many highs and lows throughout his career, and its refreshing to hear him open up about the struggles he has faced. While normal people will have never experienced this exact situation, we can all think of a time where we have been sad, upset or lost.
In this example, Beck discusses how he was feeling during a turbulent time in his career.
You can see that this makes him feel more human, he is talking like a friend would and by showing that vulnerably we like him more.
Gentle Humour
Beckham likes to poke fun at himself, and humour is a great way we connect with others. People gravitate to those who are happy, positive, and approachable. Humour is the best way to communicate this to others.
Over the last 40 years, there have been lots of studies that have looked at the persuasive power of humour. The department of Behavioural Sciences at the University of Ariel found the connection to humorous managers and their success in the workplace. During the study, managers sent several emails to their team that were both serious and humorous. The team perceived the more humorous manager as warmer and better to work for.
The conclusion of the study is that humour is a managerial tool that can be used to influence employees’ perceptions, intentions and behaviours.
Example
David Beckham’s charisma uses jokes and self-deprecating humour to build rapport, come across as more relatable, exude warmth and increase his likability. In this example he is sharing the story of his viral moment where he teases his wife Victoria Beckham about her up brining.
My Opinion on David Beckham’s Charisma
I have followed David Beckham’s career since I was a lad, and what has struck me, is that his charisma has changed over the years. When he was at Manchester United, he was a very quiet media figure who shone more with his flashy cars and wild haircuts. It’s so good to see him grow into this ‘man’s man’ figure rather than being a heartthrob. I love his style and how he carries himself through his body language, even though he has millions, he really does feel like he is down to earth. I don’t see him as the ruthless business man, but as an empathetic caring person who wants the best for everyone.
