Can charisma be hacked? I think so. There was a young man named Steve in the late 1970s. He had big dreams. But Steve has a problem. He's not exactly Mr. Charismatic. He's a bit awkward, a little intense. Not the kind of guy who lights up a room when he walks in. But Steve knows something. He knows charisma matters. It's the difference between being heard and being ignored. Between inspiring people and being overlooked. So Steve makes a decision. He decides to learn charisma. The result? Steve turns into one of the most ‘charismatic’ CEOs of all time. Steve Jobs. But charisma isn't something you learn, it's something you're born with, right? Wrong. If you've read @WalterIsaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, you'll know that Steve painstakingly crafted his public persona. He learned techniques like maintaining intense eye contact, a trait he picked up from a college friend. This piercing, unwavering gaze was a part of his charisma, signaling his intense focus and attention. Every seemingly spontaneous keynote speech? Rehearsed in detail. The charm he turned on when needed? Practiced and honed. Steve Jobs wasn't born charismatic. He became charismatic. And if he could do it, why can't you? Let's take a page out of Steve's book and learn how to boost our charisma. But first, let’s unpack… What charisma actually is Olivia Fox Cabane, author of The Charisma Myth, says it follows a simple formula: Charisma = Power Presence Warmth Or put more simply… Charisma = being respected being liked Let’s break these down. * Power doesn’t mean you’re a dictator. It’s the primal cue you set off in people’s brains that says, “this is a person I need to pay attention to”. * Social skills (presence & warmth) put the other person at ease, and make them enjoy being around us. Most people fall into one of two buckets. For example: * Presence & Warmth but no Power = the “nice guy/gal” who’s liked by all but can’t command enough respect at work. Your team loves you, but you find it hard to get the buy-in you need. * Power but no ‘pro-social’ traits = you come across as arrogant, cold or aloof. Essentially, we go too far with one to make up for a lack of the other. Let’s explain how to fix both: Too ‘nice’? Here are three ways to up your “Power”: 🤷‍♂️1. Harness the power of body language You don't have to be a fitness model to exude strength and confidence. Stand tall, make eye contact, and keep your shoulders back. You're not just looking strong, you're signaling that you're someone to be reckoned with. 👨‍💻 2. Develop an expertise Mastering a subject or skill not only increases your self-confidence, but it also garners respect from others. People admire those who have deep knowledge in a field or a skill that they have honed over the years. 🧭 3. Have a direction in life Being a ‘doormat’ means you’re easily brow-beaten by others. Powerful people - by definition - are the opposite. Grab some of this power yourself by having a clear goal for your career and personal life. People can sense those who have direction and aren’t just being swayed in whatever way the wind’s blowing. Not ‘liked’ enough at work? Here’s how to increase “Presence & Warmth”: 🙋 1. Ask sincere questions It feels great when people take a genuine interest in you. Make others feel the same by asking questions about themselves. You don’t need to interview them - just be curious. 👂 2. Practice active listening When someone is speaking, make sure they know they have your full attention. Nod, make affirming sounds, and paraphrase their points back to them to show you're fully engaged. 📖 3. Learn storytelling This is something I’ve done that I’ve felt has paid off. People are drawn to good stories and the people who tell them. Work on your storytelling skills - more for a future post on X, but the biggest tip I’ve learned is to cut back on ‘fluff’ when talking about stuff. Try to notice when you’re rambling, stop yourself, and get to the point. It's something I learnt when practicing stand-up (I'll soon share my learnings from that soon) 🧐 4. Find someone charismatic to model If there’s someone who strikes you as very charismatic, watch their interviews, presentations or podcasts. You’ll unconsciously start imbibing their mannerisms, becoming more charismatic in the process.