Charisma is a magnet that brings you more success in your private and business life

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Being charismatic can not only bring you social benefits, but can also be financially rewarding. Fortunately, charisma is not an innate talent, but a set of behaviors that you can learn and consciously use. No one is charismatic 24/7, and you don’t have to be an extremely extroverted person to develop charismatic behavior. Even as an introvert, you can master this skill – sometimes introversion is even an advantage.

A common myth is that physical attractiveness is necessary for charisma, but nothing could be further from the truth. Take Winston Churchill, for example: not a classic beauty, but a man with enormous charisma. Well-groomed people with a suitable style can enhance their charisma, but in the end it’s all about influence, warmth and genuine interest in your conversation partner.

Charisma as a strength

When people meet, they unconsciously evaluate each other from the principle of fight or flight: is this a friend or an enemy? You can choose a form of charisma that suits your personality and goals. Charismatic people make their conversation partners feel important and valued, which benefits you in both your professional and private life.

Fortunately, you can train charismatic behavior. This starts with simple adjustments such as:

Lowering your voice tone at the end of a sentence.

Consciously pausing before you speak.

Don't nod too quickly or too often.

Body language plays a crucial role: 93% of communication is non-verbal. People can tell right away if you're half-paying attention - this can undermine your charisma and create a sense of insincerity. Exercises in mindfulness and mental presence help to build a stronger bond with your conversation partner. A simple technique is to consciously follow your breathing for a second when you notice your thoughts wandering.

Influence and warmth as the key to charisma

Charismatic people radiate both influence and warmth. Influence (power) is expressed in body language, charisma and the way others respond to you. Warmth is about friendliness and good intentions towards others, something that is also strongly reflected in non-verbal communication.

When you first meet someone, people can read your status from your clothes, your warmth in your behavior, and your self-confidence in your attitude. By consciously strengthening influence and warmth, you increase your charisma and make a lasting impression.

People respond biologically to the combination of power and warmth - just like they respond to sugar. The combination of mental presence, influence and warmth makes someone charismatic in no time.

Your mental state determines your appearance

Research shows that body language determines 93% of how you come across, while words only account for 7%. Language is relatively young in human evolution; body language, on the other hand, is deeply rooted and continuously sends out thousands of signals.

Charisma begins in your thinking. A strong facade is useless without a solid mental foundation. Your thoughts are reflected in your body - this becomes visible in milliseconds. Negative beliefs can be an obstacle to your charisma, while positive mental images strengthen your appearance. The placebo effect is powerful here: influencing your thoughts can have a physical impact, just as the nocebo effect of negative thoughts can damage your health.

Want to grow your charisma? Start by recognizing mental obstacles and developing a strong, positive mindset. Charisma is not a mystery, but a skill that anyone can learn.

(Based on Olivia Fox Cabane's book, "The Charisma Myth: Master the Art of Personal Magnetism")