8 Keys to Instant Charisma: Little things make a big difference in how others perceive us. Most geeks are only dimly aware of this, usually as a vague anxiety that chokes them whenever they get involved in an unfamiliar social situation. This terse list of eight keys to instant charisma will help in a pinch. [via thinksimplenow]
- Mirroring.
Mirroring happens naturally in social interactions, but when you are conscious of it and are aware of its affects, it can be used as a tool in effective communication for generating rapport. Next time you’re engaged in a conversation with someone, try mirroring body language, posture, and facial expressions. You will find that the conversation suddenly feels very friendly and open.
- Names.
Always make an effort to remember people’s names.
- Feigning Interest.
Ask questions that the other person will enjoy answering. If it’s a complete stranger, start with the basics…
““The question for the past decade was, Is this real?” says Yale law professor Yochai Benkler. “The question for the next half-decade is, How do you make this damned thing work?” Benkler is a leading prophet of today’s gift economy, and he fits the part: his bounteous beard resembles Kropotkin’s. He was treasurer of a kibbutz, a cooperative farm, in his native Israel. He doesn’t mind being called utopian. But neither does Benkler dream of a world without capitalism. Instead, he has become an unlikely business guru, with a shop at the intersection of Commerce and Cooperation. “It’s very cool,” he says. “I find myself talking to all sorts of weird hackers one day and chief economists of major corporations the next day, and they’re all interested in similar things.”” – Getting Rich off Those Who Work for Free –…
“What’s social proof? It’s the psychological term for looking for confirmation from the crowd when you’re unsure whether to act. See ten people staring up the sky and most likely you’ll stop and stare up too. Why? Social proof. Business leaders can harness the principle. A classic example is a recent program written by Colleen Szot that shattered a nearly twenty-year sales record for a home-shopping channel. Szot simply replaced the classic call to action– “Operators are waiting, please call now”– with “If operators are busy, please call again.” Rather than imagining bored operators filing their nails, home shoppers pictured phones ringing off the hook. The implicit message: others must be buying, so should you.” – Lessons in Effective Persuasion and “Social Proof” | BNET1 | BNET
