Charismatic body language focuses on a handful of key areas, including posture, eye contact, facial expressions, hand gestures, and space. By being aware of and in control of these elements, you can build trust with others, add more weight to your communication, appear more approachable, and create connections. As a charisma coach, helping others develop charismatic body language is essential when looking to influence and persuade others. If you want to develop your charismatic body language, book your free discovery call by clicking the button below:
Key Elements of Charismatic Body Language
Do not overthink charismatic body language. There are simple elements you must be actively conscious of to positively impact your non-verbal communication.
Posture – Stand tall, with shoulders back and your head up.
Eye Contact – Absolutely vital when giving a presentation or speaking to others. Eye contact creates a ‘bond’ that enhances the connection between people. Have you ever felt that someone was so in the moment with you, making you feel like their main focus? That’s the power of amazing eye contact.
Facial Expressions – If you’re not saying something with your words, you’re 100% saying it with your face. A smile or frown can communicate a message, so be self-aware and in control of your facial expressions. You might tell someone you’re happy to see them, but a fake smile with gritted teeth tells a different story.
Gestures – The simplest way to increase your charisma is to use more hand gestures in your communication. Hand gestures add more emphasis to your words and provide a visual cue to your message. Presentations, job interviews, or investor pitches can all be enhanced with a sprinkle of well-used hand gestures.
Space – Creating appropriate space between you and your audience is often overlooked. Being too close or too far from the people you’re speaking to can give the wrong impression and undo the hard work of the other techniques.
Habits to Improve Charismatic Body Language
Knowing what techniques to use is only the beginning; they must become habits to be consistently effective. With charisma coaching, we practice activities to hone these skills. If you want to work with a charisma coach, you can book a discovery call below:
Mirror Others – Challenge yourself to subtly mirror other people’s body language, hand gestures, and facial expressions. For instance, if they cross their arms, you do the same. If they smile, smile back. If they use hand gestures, follow suit. This helps build natural habits to ‘turn on’ your charismatic body language.
Record Yourself – Search for a generic script online for a sales pitch or movie scene, read it out loud, and record yourself. It might feel awkward, but it’s excellent practice. When you watch the recording, you’ll identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Common Mistakes of Charismatic Body Language to Avoid
Some people think they have charismatic body language but don’t realize the mistakes they’re making. We are often so familiar with our own bodies that we can’t see how our non-verbal communication appears to others. Here are common mistakes to avoid:
- Not making enough eye contact
- Staring at your phone
- Reading emails while someone is speaking
- Keeping hands in your pockets
- Not smiling enough
- Slouching
- Fake smiling
- Overly flailing hand gestures
- Standing too close or far from someone
- Poor hygiene or body odor
- Resting b*tch face
Don’t feel overwhelmed by this list. Too much can be just as bad as too little. Aim for a sweet spot. Most charismatic body language involves subtle and gentle movements—nothing too intense.
How Charismatic Body Language Impacts Perception
People looking to develop better body language want to be seen as successful leaders. Body language enhances your communication, builds your reputation, and makes others believe in you more than words alone.
Here’s something to consider: Why don’t we believe a word from a used car salesman?
No matter how smooth-talking they are, we struggle to trust them.
The body doesn’t lie. So, if you want to be:
- More trusted
- Seen as confident and competent
- More influential
Then improving your body language can be the answer.
Where You Can Use Charismatic Body Language
Here’s a short list of personal and professional areas where charismatic body language can have a positive impact:
- Networking events
- Office meetings
- Job interviews
- Sales negotiations
- Investor pitches
- First dates
- Dinner parties
- Conflict resolution
- Everyday interactions
Next Steps
If you want to develop positive body language, working with a charisma coach can help. They can analyze your current body language and highlight the steps needed to turn your body into a tool for greater charisma. Book your free discovery call by clicking the button below:
