Charisma. Develop yours!

Charisma. Some people just have it—like my friend Lynn. She’s always the center of attention, as people inevitably seem to gather around her. Lynn has the energy and enthusiasm that holds people’s attention, and when you’re around Lynn you just somehow naturally feel better about yourself.

People like Lynn tend to be better liked than their peers and (surprise!) also tend to be more successful. When Lynn recently left her big law firm to set up her own practice, most of her clients followed her without hesitation. And it wasn’t only due to her great legal skills, but also to the warmth of her character.

But don’t despair if you’re reading this and thinking to yourself, “Well, that’s definitely not me”…because charisma can be developed. Here are a few tips:

1. Be positive. Charismatic people tend to be positive. They are positive about themselves (they have self-belief), as well as the people around them (they believe in other’s abilities). When you appear positive, you come across as more self-assured and approachable, and this always draws people to you.

2. Be interested. Ironically, people who listen and ask questions are universally perceived as wonderful conversationalists. Rather than putting the spotlight on yourself, put it on the person you’re talking to.

3. Improve your communication skills. To exude charisma, you must be able to communicate warmth, enthusiasm, and interest. If this doesn’t come naturally to you, proactively seek out ways to cultivate it. Take a class to learn public speaking techniques, such as vocal variety and speaking rates. Learn how to use eye contact, facial expressions and gestures in order to enhance your presentations.

4. Be prepared. To communicate well, you need to have something to speak about—preferably, something that other people want to listen to! Keep informed and up-to-date with current events, exhibitions, music, sport—anything that might help you propel conversations forward.

• admin's blog
• Login to post comments