How To: Develop Your Charisma

Communication, online and offline, is arguably the most valuable skill that you can develop. People that have charisma always seem to have an edge on people that don’t. It is obvious in business settings, in social settings and even on Twitter. They have a special charm, a powerful magnetism that draws others to them.

According to Wikipedia, “One who is charismatic is said to be capable of using their personal being, rather than just speech or logic alone to interface with others.” These people are often viewed as having a special gift. The word “charisma” is Greek for “divine gift.”

For many years, people believed that you are either born with charisma or not. Scientists have now discovered that isn’t true. A person can develop charisma.

A colleague and close friend of mine, Allison Rizk @allisonrebecca1 wrote a fabulous article on this topic and she graciously gave me permission to share it with you here.

Here are 7 tips to help you develop your own charisma:

1. First Impression
People will size you up in less than 10 seconds. Make eye contact. Give a firm handshake. Make sure you are focused and engaged on the other person during the introduction. It makes a huge difference in developing trust. **On Twitter, you always hear people say to post a picture and a strong bio. That is because you are also making a first impression to potential new followers.

2. Respect Others/Respect Yourself
Even if you disagree with the other person/people, respect them anyway. They will be far more likely to respect your opinion and consider another viewpoint when you don’t put them on the defense. **The charismatic leaders on Twitter know this so well. They are always respectful and courteous, even when they are presenting a different viewpoint.

3. Ask Questions
Most people just want to talk about themselves, so when you show a genuine interest, they will tend to like you more. It also helps you learn about what’s important to them, which from a sales perspective will help you provide a product/service they may need. **The key here is to be genuine, not fake.

4. Be Attentive
Make sure you are constantly focused on the person that you are talking to. When you are distracted or looking past them, it shows that you are not interested in what they have to say. Always be gracious. **This one is so huge! A lot of men have figured out if they are attentive to a woman, she will want to be with him. This is the same in attracting people in business, on Twitter, etc…

5. No Judgments
Gossip and public judgments about other people’s characters are always a no-no. You will make people wonder if you will talk about them behind their backs. Always have class.

6. Warmth
Be warm and accepting of other people. Simply being sincerely concerned and engaged in the other person will always convey warmth. Some people are naturally more aloof or perceived as cold. If that is you, this is something that you will have to make a conscious effort to change, but the results will be immediately worth it. **The way you convey warmth on Twitter is by replying to your @ mentions. Sometimes people will only reply to people that have a lot of followers, which does not convey charisma.

7. Be Humble
Unless you’re Donald Trump, it always makes people uncomfortable when you constantly brag about your successes. When you focus on other people’s successes, people tend to be so appreciative. When you’re always humble, your successes tend to be magnified anyway, without your having to say a word about it.