There are people who have a certain magnetism that is difficult to explain. This fascination they generate does not necessarily have to do with physical beauty, but with a special aura that invites people to orbit around them. They are generally leaders and very successful in their personal and professional lives, since their ease in relating and their power to influence others paves the way for them to achieve all their goals.
This quality is called charisma, and science has determined that there are ways to acquire this social skill, if you don't have it naturally. In fact, a study by the University of Lausanne in 2011 evaluated whether a course to increase charisma could change the social perception that participants generated in others, and the results were positive: yes, it is possible to learn to be charismatic and here are some tips to achieve it.
Seek to connect with others: In conversations, instead of focusing on yourself, what you do or what you think, find ways (simple language, comparisons, metaphors) to make your interlocutor identify with what you are saying. When it is his turn to speak, listen carefully, show him that you are interested by asking questions and find common ground that connects you in some way.
Make others feel better about themselves: In reality, what impacts others the most is how you make them feel. If someone felt really comfortable, inspired, motivated, encouraged or happy while being with you, rest assured that your impact and charisma will be memorable for him/her, they will want to spend more time with you and will be more willing to listen to you and follow you. Look for their positive aspects and compliment them, acknowledge their merits, ask them about their area of expertise, etc.
Demonstrate your integrity with your body language: Charisma has a lot to do with whether you are perceived as a trustworthy person. If you are just getting to know someone, show that you are honest through your body language. Things like maintaining good eye contact without looking away, avoiding crossing your arms and keeping your hands always visible, smiling most of the time, and standing up straight with your shoulders back help create an aura of honesty and trust around you.
Accept your imperfections with sincerity and humor: People admire charismatic people, not because they are perfect, but because they are authentic. By acknowledging your flaws and faults, others will identify with you even more, and that will connect them on a deeper level. It is not about focusing too much on the negative, but about naturally accepting and even laughing at the fact that we are not perfect, but still, we can be very charismatic.
Starting today you can begin to increase your charisma to impact others in a positive way by applying these simple tricks.