Charisma as defined by Webster's Dictionary: "A personal
magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or
enthusiasm." Makes sense, doesn't it, that inspiring
loyalty and enthusiasm in your clients and colleagues is
good for business?

These components of charisma can be learned and improved:
1. Silent messages
2. Communication skills
3. Persuasiveness
4. Adaptability

1. Silent Messages: when someone meets you for the first
time, most of their reception of you has to do with non-
verbal aspects of you that include and go beyond mere body
language.

There is also your energy level or your vibe, your body
fitness, the tone of voice more than the actual words you
say, etc. These transmit information about your level of
caring. The person you're meeting gets an impression of
whether and how you value them.

To increase your charisma (magnetic personality), be aware
of your silent messages and practice and attitude of
service. Treat others as important, and you will attract
and empower your clients and colleagues.

2. Communications skills: while this component includes
speaking, an equally important part of communication is
listening - a fact which many people forget when they are
"communicating."

To increase your charisma, practice the art of speaking
succinctly and clearly. Since people would generally rather
talk than listen, most of your business contacts will
appreciate you for being direct and to the point.

Spend plenty of focused attention on developing your
listening skills. Here are some behaviors to remember: make
eye contact, smile, nod your head or make uh-huh sounds,
lean toward rather than away. These seem like simple
things, but if you look around you might notice that many
people fail to do them.

Also, ask yourself, are you really listening, or just
waiting for your turn to talk? When you really pay
attention, you can learn valuable things about the person
with whom you're dealing. So, if you're tempted to
interrupt, take a deep breath. Always seek to understand
the other person's point of view.

3. Persuasiveness. Surprisingly, this is best accomplished
by shifting the focus to the other person. Explore the
problems you could help them solve or the opportunities you
could help them seize. Ask questions that allow the other
person to come up with the answers.

To increase your charisma, keep this in mind regarding
persuasiveness: you get what you want by helping others get
what they want.

4. Adaptability. Appreciate diversity rather than merely
tolerating that others don't always do or want things the
same way you do. The more you can get into the flow of
someone else's agenda (while remaining authentic), the more
appeal you have to them.

To increase your charisma, forget the golden rule, "Treat
others the way you would like to be treated." Instead,
figure out how to treat them the way *they* would like to
be treated.

Lila Norden is a business and financial consultant. Lila offers
valuable information to help you make decisions about your
business growth and financial development. Visit Lila's web site
Fyne Business Additional articles by Lila are also at Yes Investing
and F-Com Finances