As performers, we know we need a whole host of skills to be successful, but there’s one thing that each of us need more than anything else, so humour me.
Even if just for a little while.
Take a moment to imagine this scenario:
You approach a group of people that you’re about to perform for, you smile and introduce yourself.
You perform for the group and everybody seems to have had a good time, after you’ve left what do you think the group will remember the most? How good your ‘tricks’ were? The way you were dressed? How attractive you are?
Or your personality?
My guess is your personality.
Why do I think that?
Well because personality is directly linked to charisma and everybody remembers charismatic people… For all the right reasons!
What is charisma?
Charisma is a mixture of confidence and charm, it’s a powerful force that can help you succeed in work and relationships.
Charismatic people have the ability to captivate others, which is extremely useful for performers.
Although some people are naturally more charismatic than others, it isn’t something you’re born with and there are several things you can do to develop your own charisma.
Why do we need charisma?
Charismatic people have a way of making others feel important about themselves, they find it easier to connect with others and seem to get what they want, whether it’s being able to speak freely about their ideas without being judged or even getting the attention of an attractive person in a room full of other people. This happens because these charismatic people can be present in any situation, even if they don’t necessarily look like they are on the outside.
They know how to walk into a room and immediately command respect from everyone around them, regardless of whether those people know who they are or not. Charismatic people tend to be social creatures, which helps when interacting with others, but there’s more going on than just being outgoing that makes someone appear to be charismatic.
How can you develop charisma?
There are several ways that you can develop charisma. I’m sharing my top 7 tips with you to help you become the most captivating person in the room.
7: Eye contact
Making eye contact during conversations shows that you’re invested in what the other person has to say. If you feel awkward maintaining eye contact for extended periods of time, it can be beneficial to practice by focusing your attention on another feature near the person’s eyes, such as their nose, glasses or eyebrows. The person you’re speaking with shouldn’t be able to tell the difference when you do this, so you can use this technique to achieve the same effect until you become more comfortable making direct eye contact.
6: Slow down
Wait at least two seconds before responding in a conversation. Our speech patterns can fluctuate when we’re excited or nervous, so Practicing the pace of your speech by actively working on speaking consistently can help you develop a more confident and controlled tone in your voice when communicating with others. When you are engaged in a conversation, do not think about what you will say, just focus on what they are saying and when it is your turn wait two seconds before you respond.
5: Confidence
It is essential to have confidence in yourself and your abilities. When you’re confident, others will notice you and immediately feel that they can trust you.
START BELIEVING IN YOURSELF!
4: Presence
A person who knows how to command an audience’s attention does so by being present in the moment, connecting with others through eye contact, listening attentively, and speaking clearly when needed.
3: Amiability
People who have this quality feel approachable because even though they may be well known or influential within their field, they make others feel like they’re on equal footing with them by showing interest in what those individuals have to say and asking questions about those people’s lives outside of work.
In turn, these people will likely reciprocate the behaviour since humans tend toward reciprocity when forming relationships, for instance if someone does something nice for us, then we’ll do something nice for them later on down the line.
2: Listen
When we listen to others we appear to be interested in what they have to say, this makes them feel valued and understood. Practise actively listening to people and only ask questions relevant to the conversation.
1: Smile
When you smile, it’s a statement that says you’re a friendly person and willing to interact with others. You’re also perceived as being trustworthy and agreeable. A true smile shows you’re willing to cooperate and that you’re worthy of another person’s time and attention.
So, there you have it; My top 7 tips to help you develop charisma. I hope you find some value in this post and as always, if you have any comments, questions or suggestions then please reach out using the form on the contact page.
ASTA LA VISTA BABY!
Ryan
Some very good and important information here, also I can recomend the book “How to win friends and influence people” for even more on this subject.