Reflect on your unique ‘flavor of confidence’ instead of trying to emulate an extrovert or someone else, as authentic confidence is more impactful and allows you to feel genuinely yourself.
Understand that truly confident and authentic nonverbal cues positively ‘infect’ others, making you more memorable and impactful, whereas faking confidence leads to no mood or behavior change in others.
Recognize that 65-90% of communication is nonverbal, so focus energy beyond just words to effectively convey messages and avoid operating at a fraction of your full communication ability.
Aim to quickly and clearly signal trust (warmth) and reliance (competence) through your cues in interactions, as this makes you more magnetic by providing clarity and reducing mental work for others.
Develop charisma by consciously blending warmth (friendliness, likability, trust) and competence (capability, efficiency, productivity) in your interactions, as people are drawn to those who are both friendly and reliable.
Identify and leverage the nonverbal cues you naturally use and those that make you feel like your best self or feel good when others use them, to enhance authenticity and confidence.
Observe the most charismatic people you know and identify the specific nonverbal cues they use, then consider trying those cues yourself to enhance your own communication.
To increase warmth and encourage others to speak longer, use a slow triple nod (one, two, three) while listening.
To make others feel more engaged and dial up warmth, subtly tilt your head to the side while listening.
To signal openness and competence, use open palm gestures, such as starting interactions with an open hand, to show you are not hiding or concealing anything.
To project competence and avoid appearing anxious, consciously maximize the distance between your earlobes and shoulders, preventing the instinctive protective gesture of rolling shoulders up.