Five years of charisma trainings have taught me one thing: charisma is not 100% innate – at all! You, I, we all can increase our level of charisma. In this article I offer you a list of 100 charisma boosters. These 100 charisma boosters – hundreds of training participants came up with them, none of them innate – will doubtlessly help you to become a more charismatic person and communicator. Print them out, work on them, boost your charisma!
There are five categories of charisma drivers – presence, goals, interaction, communication and role model. In my opinion, the level of importance rises with each category.
Presence
1. Smile
No smile, no charisma.
2. Posture
Be an oak tree, not a shrub.
3. Image
You don’t have to look like George Clooney, but take care of yourself.
4. Style
There are style advisors. Check Google, get advice! Very recommendable!
5. Uniqueness
Steve Jobs’ turtlenecks, Angela Merkel’s diamond, I lack two incisors. What makes your presence unique?
Goals
6. Vision
The late Helmut Schmidt, former chancellor of Germany, once said: Those who have a vision, should go and see a doctor. I couldn’t disagree more. Share your vision, and they can follow.
7. Beliefs
If you don’t have beliefs to stand up for, what will you stand up for?
8. Drive
Apathy, laziness, lethargy – what have they ever achieved?
9. Motivation
Charismatic people need much less extrinsic motivation.
10. Initiative
What you don’t do, nobody will do it.
11. Determination
You know you will succeed.
12. Conviction
You’re convinced that you’re doing the right thing. You defend your conviction against any opposition.
13. Will
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. — International proverb
14. Strength
When Gandhi was physically weak, mentally he was the strongest. Will mental weakness ever persuade anyone?
15. Demand
Demand more from yourself. Don’t settle for good. Always strive for excellence.
16. Preparation
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. An unshakeable truth in public speaking – it also applies to life and leadership.
17. Focus
If everything is important, then nothing is important. — Brian Mulroney
18. Commitment
100% head, 100% heart.
19. Dedication
The first one on the battlefield, the last one to leave.
20. Decisiveness
The worst decision is to take no decision.
21. Competitiveness
A quitter never wins and a winner never quits. — Napoleon Hill
22. Perseverance
Dripping water doesn’t hollow out the stone by force, but through persistence. — Ovid
23. Adaptation
Nothing is as constant as change. Adapt to new situations instantly. Don’t look back in anger.
Interaction
24. Accessibility
Don’t waste your time. Train your people to get to the point, but never lock them out. Be accessible!
25. Attention
Birthday wishes, Christmas cards, an acknowledging nod – attention to detail is priceless.
26. Kindness
If you want to be an asshole, charisma is not your game. Kindness is a rule.
27. Emotional intelligence
Do you have the capacity to recognize your own, and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior?
28. Empathy
What about them?
29. Sympathy
Common feeling.
30. Sensibility
Are you able to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences?
31. Individuality
Everyone is different. Treat everyone differently.
32. Patience
Patience is a virtue.
33. Openness
The room of charisma has no door. Be open!
34. Open-mindedness
My ignorance let me reject gay people in the past. Today, some of my great friends are gay. Open your mind!
35. Non-judgment
Very difficult. Don’t we judge everyone and everything all the time? And yet, charisma doesn’t like to judge.
36. Respect
Your positive feeling of admiration makes others shine.
37. Compassion
When others suffer, you suffer.
38. Awareness
When you communicate with others, be aware of their situation. Similar to empathy.
39. Love
Love your neighbor as yourself. — Mark 12:31
40. Gentleness
Gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch. Be that hand!
41. Forgiveness
The ability to forgive? One of the best human traits.
42. Solidarity
Go out, do good! Talk to Trent zum Mallen!
43. Facilitation
A-people hire A-people; B-people hire C-people. — Markus Bohl. Beyond your own agenda, facilitate massive personal and professional growth in others!
44. Collaboration
Confrontation is for losers. Winners collaborate.
45. Objectivity
Put yourself in the shoes of others. How would they judge your decisions? Be objective!
46. Consent
Being a rock is great, but not a rock that blocks any agreement. Look for and support consent.
47. Extroversion
Speak up!
48. Charm
Make more compliments, honest compliments. People will love you more.
49. Courtesy
Manners don’t belong to the past. Open doors, know your plates, stand up when someone arrives or leaves.
Communication
50. Rhetoric
2,300 years old, but younger than ever. Use these 25 rhetorical devices!
51. Public Speaking
Join a Toastmasters club – this week!
52. Story-telling
Plot, characters, theme, dialog, décor, chorus, spectacle – these seven golden rules of Aristotle will make your stories shine. On top of that, CSI is a guaranteed winner!
53. Listening skills
We have two ears and one mouth.
54. Wisdom
Share your experiences. Wisdom knows no age.
55. Simplicity
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. — Leonardo Da Vinci
56. Language
Speak the language of your audience. (But avoid four letter words!)
57. Message
A speech without a message is like Jesus without a mission. — Tobias Rodrigues
58. Arguments
Persuade people with robust arguments based on logos (logic), ethos (credibility) and pathos (emotion).
59. Emotions
We have a logical brain and an emotional brain. Guess who wins when they fight.
60. Vulnerability
Share your imperfections, your raw inner self, your broken soul – that’s where human connection goes deep.
61. Transparency
How can you trigger emotions in other people, if your heart is covered by a thick and heavy curtain?
62. Naturalness
Do bar talk in front of audiences, speak as if you were having a conversation with a friend.
63. Humor
Exaggeration, breaking the expected, self-deprecating comments – humor is pattern.
64. Freshness
Don’t be a rotting apple when you speak. Be a kiwi, an orange, a lemon – be fresh!
65. Enthusiasm
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. — Ralph Waldo Emerson
66. Energy
The number one success factor in communication. Body and voice – be more energetic!
67. Voice
Volume, pace, pitch, pause – let your voice go wild!
68. Clarity
Short sentences, no conjunctions, pauses – the clearer the better.
69. Intonation
Let your words metamorphose into music.
70. Flow
Imagine a roller coaster ride with the slow rise and fast fall, with ups and downs, sudden turns and lasting loops. That’s your speech flow.
71. Silence
No word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. — Mark Twain
72. Body language
Closed body language shows unease, anxiety, fear. Open body language shows charisma.
73. Expressiveness
There’s a mirror in your bathroom. Train your mimic every morning.
74. Gestures
Metaphorical gestures, illustrative gestures, symbolic gestores, signaling gestures – make your body speak!
75. Eye Contact
When you avoid direct eye contact, your charisma avoids you. Look them straight into their soul.
Role model
76. Sincerity
Be real, be sincere, don’t be fake. Say what you feel and feel what you say.
77. Honesty
Don’t lie. Be honest. Tell the truth, even if it hurts.
78. Humaneness
You’re not a machine, you’re not perfect. Make mistakes, admit mistakes, be human.
79. Emotiveness
Be emotional. Your emotions inspire others.
80. Humbleness
Arrogance is the slow death of charisma. In the long run, only humbleness can win.
81. Integrity
Walk the talk. Or, like Warren Buffet defines it: Say NO when you feel like it.
82. Truth
Truth is subjective. Be that subjective truth!
83. Goodness
Anything you do, Karma sees it. Deep in your heart you know what is good. Always be good!
84. Moral
The original meaning of ethos is moral values. Charisma is ethos; ethos must be always at 100%.
85. Optimism
In the end, everything will be alright. If you don’t think that way, change your attitude.
86. Positivity
One step doesn’t work? Take another one. Be positive even in the most troublesome situation.
87. Happiness
Don’t worry, be happy. — Bobby McFerrin
88. Self-esteem
Love yourself.
89. Self-confidence
If you’re not confident about yourself, who will ever be confident about you?
90. Self-security
Take action against the odds. Be secure about your actions.
91. Spontaneity
I was 14 years old. My biology teacher Mr. Rundler opened the classroom window one day. He looked at us with a fat grin. Enthusiastically he said, Let’s go to my garden!
92. Passion
Let the bonfire burn in your heart. Show your passion.
93. Coherence
Take off that mask. Be coherent with your content, body and voice. Show your feelings.
94. Consistency
Don’t be that flag in the wind. Stick to your beliefs, convictions, decisions!
95. Consequence
Bare the consequences of your actions.
96. Self-criticism
Don’t be afraid to criticize yourself in front of others. They love you for that.
97. Noblesse
Dignity, excellence, incorruptibility – be noble.
98. Seriousness
Humor is one thing, but when it matters, be serious.
99. Zen
When the shit hits the fan, switch off the fan. Be Zen when others erupt like the Mount Vesuvius.
100. Self-control
Control your temper. Be Ronald Reagan, not Donald Trump!
Conor Neill
Awesome list, be Zen my amigo!