The “it factor” is an indefinable quality that makes someone special, often applied to celebrities, politicians, job seekers, or religious leaders. It can hinder judgment of who someone really is and is both elusive and transitory.
In the past, the “it factor” could be defined as someone with je ne sais quoi, or the indefinable something that makes someone special. It has even been referred to as The X Factor in some cases and can still be referred to as such. Most often, it is applied to celebrities or semi-celebrities who seem to radiate charisma and charm.
The “it factor” can apply not only to celebrities but also to politicians, job seekers or religious leaders. Mother Teresa shunned the fashionable world and lived a life of deprivation to serve others. Her appeal had to do with the spiritual way she lived her life. People would have been waiting days for the hearing with her.
When people are interviewing for a job, some confidence can be the “it factor” that potential employers are looking for. Somehow, a respondent has to stand out from the crowd. There are numerous books written on how to apply, interview and find a job.
Most of these books focus on appearing strong yet supple, and further establishing a personality that will be remembered in a positive way. Many of the recommendations have to do with making the interviewer feel comfortable and at ease. Basic things like nodding your head and smiling can create an attraction that other job applicants don’t possess.
Unfortunately, the “it factor” can hinder people’s judgment of who they really are. There’s an old saying that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. However, often the “it factor” in its most superficial forms is turning the sow’s ear into the silk purse. It’s all about looks, and not about one’s point of view and one’s contributions to the world. While it can be fun to watch the parade of people who have it, society also takes intense pleasure in seeing such idols toppled, as evidenced by the massive interest in the decline and fall of celebrities.
So the “it factor” is both elusive and transitory. Whoever has it today may not have it tomorrow. It is usually not an adequate measure of the human, and there is no definable yardstick by which to govern such a factor.
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