Build your charisma in 4 steps

February 07, 2015 at 11:00 PM
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Some salespeople just ooze charisma—that personal magnetism that is so hard to resist. Everyone seems to love them—including their clients. So is charisma something you're just born with? Or can it be cultivated?

Here are a few steps you can take to boost your charisma factor:

1.     Live for a mission. Having a mission statement is a good start. But you need to live your mission every day or your charismatic light won't shine through. When you live by a consistent, authentic message, your charisma will shine in a way that gets people's attention.

 2.     Project confidence. Be bold yet humble. A self-assured, assertive manner is something you can sense in people when you first meet them, and it's very compelling. Practice projecting a calm confidence.

3.     Derive joy from others. A sincere interest in and concern for other people is an important charismatic quality. Author Dale Carnegie urged his readers to "be impressed, not impressive." And strive to emphasize the positive; upbeat professionals tend to attract more clients.

4.     Embrace your style. Mark Twain quipped that "naked people have little or no influence on society." If you find a gray suit stifling, go ahead and wear that Mickey Mouse watch. Charismatic professionals are innovators and leaders—and leaders embrace their individuality.

Charisma comes more easily to some than to others, but with practice, you can develop this elusive quality. Start with these 4 tips for strengthening your charisma muscle.

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Sandy Schussel is a speaker, business trainer and coach who helps sales teams develop systems to win clients. He is the author of The High Diving Board and Become a Client Magnet. For more information, go to www.sandyschussel.com.

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