Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
When you're at a social event, do you ever feel like other agents get just a little more attention than you do? Writing at life improvement site Lifehacker.com, one expert says charisma is learned, so with some conscious thought, you can improve your own. "Your subconscious, social cues, physical expression, and the way you treat others all play a part in developing your charisma," argues writer Patrick Allan.
photo credit: mag3737 via photopin cc
The two most important traits of charismatic people are presence and confidence, Allan explains. Presence means that "you're showing the other person that they have your complete attention." Allan suggests pretending that you're reading a novel or watching a movie and slowly learning about the main character. "Be positive, shut down your ego, and give your full attention. It really is that simple."
Confidence requires a balance that incorporates a variety of factors and shuns others. Avoid arrogance, but don't appear to be timid, Allan suggests. In conversations, when you're talking about a subject you don't know well, if you push yourself to become curious, you'll "appear confident with the fact that you don't know about something," Allan says.
Also, in conversation, don't falter. "We all have those moments where we do something and think to ourselves, 'that was stupid,'" Allan says. "Forget those moments." Be yourself and the occasional slip is easily overlooked or forgiven.
Other factors to help build charisma: Being a good conversationalist, maintaining comfortable eye contact, and being expressive with your body. Finally, when you're in doubt about how to act, mirror some of the other person's mannerisms and energy level, which helps demonstrate that you're in the same frame of mind.
