15 Ways to Improve Your Charisma Now

You recognize them by the twinkle in their eye, their smile that oozes confidence (but not arrogance), and that certain something you can't quite put your finger on, but that draws you in, makes you want more of them.

That "something" is charisma, and it's what sets a great orator apart from an ordinary speaker, a salesperson of the year apart from a mediocre one -- even a beloved president apart from a losing candidate.

The word "charisma" comes from the Greek word 'charis,' or grace, and people who possess it have gained a great advantage. A number of studies have found that people are genuinely drawn to charismatic individuals, and are more willing to buy from them, be influenced by them and even vote for them in a presidential election.
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"Elections are supposed to be about issues . . . but a number of ingenious experiments show that how a politician looks and comes across to voters can make a huge difference in the outcome of an election," wrote Shankar Vedantam in a November Washington Post article.

50 Percent of Charisma is Innate, but 50 Percent is Trained

According to British professor and psychologist Richard Wiseman, charisma is so influential that people naturally want to mimic the body language and facial expressions of someone with charisma.

"When you see someone else who has charisma, without realizing it, you're mimicking their posture and their facial expressions," says Wiseman. "An obvious example is when someone smiles at you and you smile back. And how you hold yourself influences your emotions ... You're unaware you're mimicking this person, although you know they make you feel happy."

Wiseman points out that charismatic people exhibit three attributes:

* They feel emotions strongly
* They induce emotions in others
* They are not influenced by other charismatic people

If you want to be more charismatic (and thereby increase your chances of everything from finding your true love to getting a promotion at work), there's good news.

While about 50 percent of charisma is innate, Wiseman says that the other 50 percent is trained ... which means everyone can learn how to be charismatic.

How do You Present Yourself to the World?

how do you present yourself

Simple, everyday actions can make all the difference in whether you're perceived by others as charismatic and confident. For instance, do you greet people with a firm handshake and steady gaze, or avert your eyes and walk the other way? Are you eager to hear what others tell you, or do you shut them out mentally as soon as they begin to talk?

With the following quiz you can find out just how assertively you come across to other people, and where your level of charisma falls.

Find Out How You Present Yourself to the World Now!

"There are some people who are just lucky buggers and are just naturally charismatic, like Johnny Depp, David Bowie and Marilyn Monroe," says broadcaster and confidence tutor Jeremy Milnes. "But I honestly believe that these are techniques and skills which can be learned and practiced and can be made part of your own behavior."

15 Tips to Develop Your Charisma


1.Assume every person you meet is important, and treat him or her as such.

2.Shake hands strongly and firmly (and, even better, say something positive while doing so).

3.Keep an open body posture, with your hands away from your face while speaking.

4.Stand up straight and tall, but not rigidly.

5.When speaking to a group, speak conversationally from a bulleted list (not by reading from a script).

6.Take the time to remember people's names, and use them in conversation.

7.Look at the color of people's eyes (they will notice the extra attention you're giving them).

8.Compliment people freely (as long as the compliments are sincere).

9.Notice and acknowledge people's strengths and accomplishments.

10.Use pauses while you speak to create emphasis.

11.Take care of your outside appearance (look your best).

12.Smile, ideally a little bit longer than the person you're looking at.

13.Hear the emotions in people's words, and respond to them.

14.Use positive body language, including maintaining eye contact, briefly touching a person on the upper arm, and moving around while you speak.

15.Be genuinely interested in those around you (ask them their opinions, inquire about their life and interests, listen and don't interrupt).

Site: www.SixWise.com

11 Great Ways To Start Your Day

STEP 1: Wake up at the same time. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to face the morning if your body automatically wakes itself up. If you’re alarm clock dependent then you need to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Get into a routine of going to bed and waking up at the same time - your body will thank you for it! Also try setting your stereo as an alarm you can lull yourself awake with your favorite tunes.

STEP 2: Take a shower. Most of you probably already do this, but if you normally shower at night consider a switch to the am. That blast of water is sure to wake you up, but don’t up the temperature too high or it’ll put you back to sleep! Read more

STEP 3: Put on some music. Music therapy has been shown to reduce stress and have a positive effect on health. But you don’t need a therapist to enjoy some of the benefits music has to offer. Listening to music as you get ready and start your day will create positive energy and a soothing sense of peace (or a sense of fun, if you play party music). Music can compliment other healthy lifestyle habits, adding a sense of peace to a yoga workout, putting a spring in your step on a morning walk, or stimulating your mind as you write in your journal.

STEP 4: Exercise. I know that when you’re trying to open your eyes exercise is probably the furthest thing from your mind, but if you get into the habit of exercising first thing you’ll be amazed at how alert you will feel, not just for the morning but the whole day. You don’t need to become a gym junkie either, drag your boy or flatmate out of bed and head out for a quick jog. If that’s too much for you then consider doing STEP 5.

STEP 5: Stretch. A simple five minute, full-body stretch will give you a natural jumpstart, gently raising your heart rate so that your body feels awake and ready to handle the day’s challenges. In addition, unlike coffee, stretching improves the strength and flexibility of your muscles so that you’ll be more energetic hours, days, and even months down the road. Start by tensing and relaxing the muscles in your feet, then gently rotate each ankle, circling three or four times clockwise and then counter-clockwise to explore your full range of motion. Slowly work your way all the up from your feet to the top of your head, tensing each muscle group for a count of five and then releasing it, and giving every joint a few soft rotations. This should take you about five to seven minutes. When you’re done your whole body will be humming with endorphins, the naturally mood-elevating hormones that your system uses to reward itself for exercising, so you’ll feel great as you head into the next part of your morning routine!

Journaling For Your Mind

STEP 6: Journaling. Now that you’re body is ready to face any challenges your day throws at you, it’s time to rev up your brain. Recent scientific research has shown that writing on a regular increases happiness, relaxation and feelings of positivity, so try making this fun and easy practice a part of your morning routine.

Here are a few examples of the kinds of journaling topics that might make a great addition to your morning routine. Try writing about one of your favorite moments of achievement, recalling as many details as possible. Be vivid not only about how good it felt to reach a goal, but note the sounds, sights, even the smells of that moment! This kind of intense recall of a triumph will help you remember that success is in your grasp. You can also write about things that don’t make you feel successful at all. If there’s an issue in your life that you’re upset about or is bothering you, try writing about it. Get yourself to write down any positive aspects about it: if you can discover something you’ve learned in the struggle, you’ll feel more upbeat and hopeful about finding a solution to your problem.

Of course, these are just the tip of the iceberg for journaling topics: when it comes to what to write about, the sky’s the limit. Taking just ten or fifteen minutes to write about anything in the morning will help you wake up your brain by pumping it full of upbeat energy, so just have fun with it!

Fuel For Energy

STEP 7: Eat a balanced breakfast. I can’t say this enough, having a nice light breakfast in the morning is the best way to increase energy levels and hasten the body and it’s burning of fat cells. Instead of focusing on toast and jam, why not try the healthier option of grapes and plain acidophilus yoghurt. Grapes have amazing antioxidant properties and the live bacteria (don’t freak out – it’s a good thing) in the yoghurt supports the digestive system.

STEP 8: Drink green tea or some coffee. Sipping a warm cup of tea is a soothing activity that will help you prepare for the day ahead and feel nurtured. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, so it’s a delicious and healthy lifestyle choice. Now about coffee, ok, so you’re not supposed to be dependent on caffeine to get you through the morning, but never have I read that a cup a day is bad for you! If you’re having a bad morning, then that magic mug of java may just give your brain that extra kick it needs.

STEP 9: Try to drink 2 glasses of water before you leave in the morning. During the day, if you can, try to drink a few bottles of water, and at the end of the day drink another 2-4 glasses with dinner, etc. This may seem like a lot at first, but your body actually does need 8-10 glasses of water to stay correctly hydrated. You may have to use the restroom more than usual when you first start. This is only temporary! As your body gets used to having all the water it needs, it will absorb into your system and your restroom visits will return to normal.

Enjoy Your Mornings

STEP 10: Think of it as extra social time. Embrace the period before you start work as extra time you have to yourself so don’t waste it staying in bed to the last possible minute! Meet up with your best friend for breakfast at a local cafe, sit at the dining room table and enjoy breakfast with your partner or read a chapter or two of your book.

STEP 11: Take a different route to work/uni/school. A change is as good as a holiday and even a small change like taking a different route can make you feel refreshed. By going an alternative way than your normal route you take away some of the monotony you associate with the journey. Even better, try a different mode of transport whether it be bus, walking, cycling or catching a ride with someone else.

Everyone has a morning routine, and whether it’s a leisurely soak in the tub or a frenzied dash for the bus, the way you spend your first half hour sets the tone for the rest of the day. With that in mind, get things started right with this simple morning routine. Try one or several steps, and experiment until you find what suits you.

So, Get Your Morning Off To a Good Start!