Enlightened in Charisma

Charisma is the transference of enthusiasm—Ralph Archbold

We all know that one person who has their way with words and can get anything they want or get away with some things. They have this irresistible charm that makes you want to listen to them, talk to them, and be around them.

This set of people usually makes good lawyers, politicians, or public speakers, and we believe there is something distinct about how they look, talk, and act that makes them extremely likable. If you had one superpower that would make your relationships with people easier and make you stand out in your profession, I think it would be this.

CHARISMA

People sometimes mistake charisma for enthusiasm or manipulation. Also, I have always believed that only extroverts can be charismatic, and only people whose lifestyle or career demands it should be charismatic.

There have been a lot of terms and ideas used to define charisma; some believe it is innate, and others believe it can be learned but the ideology most widely spread is that only leaders need to be charismatic

But do you have to pursue a line of work that demands being charismatic? Do you need charisma? And how can charisma help you in your field of work? How can you develop charisma?

WHY CHARISMA

John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., and even Donald J Trump have been labeled as some of the most charismatic leaders ever known.

We all want people to hear us when we speak, notice us in a crowd, or remember us when there is an opportunity. You can achieve all of these through charisma. It can be pretty easy for some people and others can try to fake it.

But you don't have to be the clown of the crowd to be charismatic or a "yes" man to be liked; charisma also doesn't have to be about speaking only. It's in how to look, pay attention to people, listen, and treat people.

Here are three major ways you can develop an attitude of charisma.

Take care of yourself

We have all been told not to judge a book by its cover but newsflash, we all do. It's called the "illusion of perception." We all love to be around someone who looks good, smells good, and dresses well, and this gives them an edge.

Whether you accept it or not, your appearance helps you build an attitude of charisma. If you are aware that you can appear in front of anyone, it gives you a shot of confidence. This is why celebrities spend millions of dollars on plastic surgery, personal trainers, etc.

Political candidates also spend a lot of time making sure that their candidacy photos are perfect. There is evidence that supports the idea that 90% of uninformed voters will vote for the candidate that looks good the most.

In this digital age, your profile picture could determine if people want to work with you or not.

Learn to speak

I am learning to be a public speaker because my career requires it, but I have come to understand that every human being needs to learn how to speak and articulate their words correctly. It's in the tone, sound, and accurate pronunciation.

A study analyzed MLK's speech and why it was historical. They analyzed the authenticity, rhythm, vision, and literary style. One could argue that the content of his speech was timely but remember that MLK wasn't the only person who spoke on that day and yet everyone remembered the "I Have a Dream" speech.

I used to rush through my words, maybe because I didn't want to forget what I wanted to say but I noticed that my listener(s) would rarely pick up a thing from our conversation. Recently, I started following Joseph Tsar on YouTube and he shares tips about how to speak more articulately and learning to define your tone for delivery.

Improve your body language

When you are not speaking, what does your body say? Your body language is a nonverbal signal, and it accounts for up to 65% of your communication. It involves your eyes, hand gestures, facial expressions, etc. How can all of these help you to be more charismatic?

You can start by being present in your conversations with people, this will help you tune your body language naturally, and you won't have to be too conscious or try to force it. If you are not interested in a conversation, politely decline, and if you can't, just listen attentively.

Make people feel valued in a conversation, and be interesting and interested. People like you when they know you have a genuine interest in them. A neurology tip is to look into people's left eye when having a conversation with them. Don't stare but look at them with intent and presence.

Final thoughts

You don’t have to change your personality to be charismatic but you can work on how you interact with people.

Charisma can be learned and if mastered, it can be used as a tool to make your relationships easier.

I hope you are enlightened,

Until next week,

- - Dammy.