How to be More Charismatic!

What is charisma? According to Webster, “charisma is a special magnetic charm or appeal.” Regardless of the technical terminology, it’s not easy to quantify, but we all recognize it when we see it. It’s the type of charm that’s so powerful that it inspires others to be attracted to your ideas. It’s something that we all want more of in our lives. :-) 

While some may be blessed with a natural tendency to be charismatic, the rest of us can learn. When you boiled it down, it’s just a certain mentality while utilizing specific skills that elicit a particular response in others.

Over the years, I’ve learned charismatic people: 

1) Charm like there’s no tomorrow. At their core, a charismatic individual is someone who’s very charming. Also, they use this charming characteristic to influence others to action indirectly.  

Here are multiple ways to be more charming: 

-When you go into a room, show people you’re genuinely glad to see them.  

-Since eyes are the windows to the soul, put away your cell phone and make sure you’re genuinely making a connection through eye contact.  

-Figure out a way to offer a genuine compliment. Not a B.S. artificial comment, but something honest and sincere.

-Be comfortable in your own skin. Charming people almost always come across as relaxed and grounded in who they are. 

2) Bold and confident. Even if we have nervousness, we have to figure out how to turn our anxiety into excitement to be more bold and confident. By doing things as simple as smiling, speaking clearly, having good posture, and utilizing proper hand gestures, we can boost our confidence.  

3) Precise persuasiveness. Charismatic individuals know how to persuade others. Suppose you think of some of the most memorable leaders in the last century like Winston Churchill, JFK, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Margaret Thatcher, and Ronald Reagan. In that case, you will find that they all knew how to persuade others. Here are some of the attributes that they all had in common:

-They knew how to inspire others to action through their words

-They were persistent and did not give up easily

-They understood the concept of reciprocity, which is when others are willing to help you since you first helped them.

The funny thing is you will always be “too” something for someone. “Too bold,” “too calm,” “too short,” “too tall,” “too young," “too old;” be too good for it to matter! You become “good” by having charisma. Heck, if you have charisma, you will have the ability to hold others' attention, make them feel special, and then persuade them to do whatever you want. It’s not hard to see how being charismatic can take your career to a whole new level. 

*Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and storyteller who empowers organizations to attract more clients through the art of strategic storytelling. Matt’s past engagements have catalyzed radical sales increases for over 200 organizations that range from financial institutions to the health and wellness industry. 

Matt shares his expertise in persuasion with executives, sales professionals, and entrepreneurs, who he coaches on the art of influence and how to leverage this for profits and impact. 

For more info, check out his video | https://youtu.be/pflQtzgP7X0