You have seen it happen at parties and events. There is always one person who is surrounded by half of the crowd attending. This happens everywhere the person goes. Others just cannot wait to spend time with this person. What is going on here? What makes everyone want to be around that person?
Well, here is your answer. It is called charisma. While some people may be born with a few of the basic qualities, but you can develop charisma over time, just like any other quality or skill.
Charisma can be difficult to define because it is a group of things which are unique to each person. So, asking what’s charisma, is a bit like asking what’s fruit salad, which depends on who is making it and what they have on-hand to work with. Each person is different. In general, Charisma is a various group of balanced skills and traits that work well together to attract and inspire others. Below are a few skills and traits that charismatic people seem to have/acquire.
Compassion & Empathy
Charismatic people truly care about others. They do not talk about themselves very often, instead they ask open-ended questions to get to know people. This is a good way to show others how you feel about them, which is why many people are drawn to them.
Authenticity
They understand who they are inside and out, as well as why it’s important to be genuine and honest. Being able to accept their flaws and weaknesses helps them to accept, care for, and genuinely value others.
Advanced Social Skills
They have social skills, unlike anyone else. They know how to communicate effectively by truly listening and contributing with a balanced comment. They have the power to influence and make those around them feel included. Respect and kindness are also priorities. People tend to be attracted to these qualities.
High-Level of Communication Skills
Charismatic people usually have great communication skills over all. However, they have an innate knack for being able to read people and understand what they want or need before they even utter a word. They often pick up on small body language cues quickly. They also know how to discuss and explain things so everyone feels smart and that they have learned something useful that will help them.
Energetic & Optimistic
Most people are drawn to a person who is energetic, within reason, and is also optimistic. While being energetic is good, what draws others to the person is that they feel the person is energizing them.
There are many other qualities and skills that can help you become more charismatic, depending on your goal. Before you add charisma to your to-do list remember to start by building your skills and qualities over time. This is not something you can hurry through. Build and grow as you go.