The Silent Erosion of Toxic Charisma at Work
- Brainz Magazine
- Jun 9
- 6 min read
Barbara Suigo is a charisma expert, HR consultant, and author. Specializing in the development of soft skills, she has published the "Charisma Trilogy" and offers personalized training and coaching programs for leaders and professionals.
In my previous articles, we explored charisma as a positive, transformative force. We talked about presence, listening, empathy, and the magnetism of eye contact. We saw how charisma can be trained and developed authentically, becoming a powerful tool to forge genuine connections, inspire trust, and generate positive impact.
Yet, like any force capable of fascinating and engaging, charisma also has a dark side. History is full of charismatic figures who managed to enchant and lead, not always for good. From religious leaders to political dictators, from financial con artists to spiritual seducers, charismatic manipulators have existed in every sphere since time immemorial.
Starting today, we embark on a new journey: we will explore that shadowy zone where charisma does not inspire, but manipulates, where empathy is feigned, where confidence becomes domination. Where brilliance conceals a relational void, in other words, we will venture into the realm of dark psychology.
And, beginning with the next articles, we will focus on a figure that remains far too underdiscussed yet is very common: the corporate manipulator–colleague or superior who appears brilliant, persuasive, seductive, but uses their charisma to form opportunistic alliances, divide teams, and slowly destroy trust and organizational climate. A presence that is insidious, sometimes hard to detect at first glance, yet terribly real in many companies.
Dazzling facades
The same traits that make someone charismatic, self-assurance, eloquence, stage presence, communication skills, and emotional control can also serve as weapons for manipulative personalities to win trust and acquiescence, only to exploit them for their own gain.
And here lies the paradox: at first, it is not always possible to distinguish authentic charisma from toxic charisma. Both can appear brilliant, engaging, and even inspiring. Only over time, and it doesn’t have to be very long, sometimes just a few weeks or months, do the first warning signs become noticeable, if one pays attention.
Subtle yet revealing signals: inconsistencies between words and actions; small betrayals of trust; stories that shift depending on the listener; a growing sense of discomfort, confusion, or being belittled. Toxic charisma does not reveal itself immediately; it hides, adapts, and masquerades as radiant leadership. But beneath that mask, with a clearer perspective, one begins to perceive the incongruity.
Anyone who has ever dealt with an enchanting yet divisive boss, or a brilliant yet destabilizing colleague, or a partner who both mesmerized and belittled, knows exactly what I mean. In these cases, charisma is not a quality in the service of the relationship; it is a disguise.
Reptiles in the conference room
To understand this dark side, we will rely on authoritative sources. Chief among them: Snakes in Suits by Paul Babiak and Robert Hare, a fundamental read for anyone who wants to recognize and understand psychopathic behaviors in the workplace. In this book, the authors describe professional figures who, despite lacking empathy, moral sense, or remorse, manage to climb to prestigious roles thanks to their charm, audacity, and extraordinary capacity to read and manipulate social dynamics.
But this is not the only illuminating contribution. Corporate Psychopaths by Clive Boddy delves into the systemic impact these personalities have on organizational well-being. In Working with Monsters, Rebecca Michalak details the insidiousness of invisible psychopathic behaviors. The Psychopath Whisperer by Kent Kiehl's shows, from a neuroscientific perspective, how the absence of empathy is camouflaged behind appealing traits. Finally, The Talent Delusion by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic invites us to reflect on how companies may unwittingly reward precisely these dysfunctional traits.
All of these texts help us decode a phenomenon that is still too scarcely discussed: the presence of manipulative personalities who use charisma not to create value, but to consolidate power.
The era of appearances: When charisma deceives
We live in an era where appearance often carries more weight than substance. Image, performance, and personal branding dominate professional discourse. In this context, charisma can become a shortcut to acquiring influence, even when there is no real substance behind it. And this is where the risk emerges.
Recent history offers concrete examples. Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the biotech startup Theranos, mesmerized Silicon Valley with a revolutionary promise that turned out to be false. Carlos Ghosn, the globe-trotting executive at the helm of the Nissan Renault alliance, reached the pinnacle of power only to fall under charges of fraud and abuse. Pierin Vincenz, the charismatic face of Swiss finance, was convicted for opaque transactions and hidden personal interests.
All three exemplify the dynamic of toxic charisma: brilliant professionals, seductive, acclaimed, yet they built personal empires on foundations of manipulation, deception, and abuse of trust. These cases demonstrate how toxic charisma can take root even in the most structured, educated, and regulated environments.
Opening our eyes to these mechanisms means shielding ourselves. It means naming what we often feel viscerally as something negative but struggle to explain. It also means reclaiming the true essence of what it really means to be charismatic: not pleasing everyone, but being true to oneself. Not enchanting, but inspiring. Not seducing, but serving.
First, they enchant, then they deplete
In the coming articles, we will delve into the psychological traits of manipulative charisma, the corporate dynamics in which it proliferates unchecked, and the subtle yet revealing signs for
recognizing it, and above all, the behavioral and relational strategies to defend ourselves, even when walking away is not an option.
Because yes, these figures are not just uncomfortable. They can have a direct, profound impact on people’s mental health: anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, communication blocks, loss of self-confidence, even burnout. These are all conditions that can manifest when someone’s life intersects, even briefly, with a toxic personality.
And there’s more. Many people, even years later, struggle to speak about their experiences with a charismatic manipulator. They feel shame, wonder how they didn’t notice sooner, or blame themselves, as if they somehow deserved it. But they don’t. No one deserves to be destabilized, confused, or emptied by someone who wields charm as a lever of control.
That is why vigilance, clarity, and a strong sense of center are essential. One must know how to navigate, how to protect oneself, where to turn, and when it is time to stop.
This journey will be raw, less reassuring, but necessary. Because charisma also casts a shadow. And to truly shine, we must learn to recognize it.
The price of naïveté at work
Now more than ever, working in a corporate environment requires a different kind of awareness. The company is not our home, and colleagues are not necessarily, nor should they automatically be, our friends. A company exists to generate profit, where it is easy to find people willing to do anything to advance, gain visibility, or climb the hierarchy.
The naïve narrative that prevailed forty or fifty years ago, the one of the great corporate family, blind loyalty, total identification with the workplace, is no longer current. That world was more stable; careers were linear, and a sense of belonging was fueled by a culture of permanence.
Today, however, mobility, competition, and constant exposure reign. And in this context, relational vulnerability becomes fertile ground for seductive, manipulative figures.
It is essential to educate people to recognize these dangers, because crime not only happens on the streets, but also behind a desk.
This space exists for that purpose: to offer words, tools, and clear-headedness because one can be kind yet lucid. Empathetic yet protected. Brilliant yet grounded.
I am working on a new volume dedicated precisely to this theme: “Charismatic Psychopaths,” an in-depth investigation into the dark side of charisma. If you have experienced distressing encounters in the workplace with a manipulative or charismatic figure and wish to share your story, write to me: real-life accounts help break the silence and shed light on what often remains hidden.
I look forward to seeing you in the next article.
Read more from Barbara Suigo
Barbara Suigo, Senior HR Consultant, Author, Charisma Expert
Born in Italy and naturalized as a French citizen, Barbara Suigo is an HR consultant, author, coach, and trainer specializing in the Art of Charisma. With solid experience in corporate communication and extensive training in NLP, persuasion, and storytelling techniques, she supports professionals and companies by offering personalized coaching, training programs, and in-depth content.
Barbara is the author of the Charisma Trilogy, a work that deeply explores how to develop and harness personal influence and leadership presence. She has also published other books focused on personal and professional growth, solidifying her role as a leader in the field of soft skills development.
