instructor Hood's Key Ideas from Charisma on Command
by Charlie Houpert

People are not infinitely malleable in their charisma levels. Even the best charisma coaches won’t turn Mark Zuckerberg into Will Smith; but they can help people improve their charisma dramatically through small but continuous changes.

1. High-conviction type, like Steve Jobs, believe strongly in what and why they’re doing; they also seem to know the future. Other people want to be around them
2. Authentic type – They say things they feel are true, even if it’s an unpopular opinion that puts them at a social disadvantage. Most people trust this type implicitly.
3. Comedian type – they have this charismatic characteristic have a great sense of humor
4. Energetic type – They bring a bold vibe to the room and draw others to participation
5. Empathetic type, like Oprah Winfrey, create a safe space for to open up, and people love them for it

To boost your conversation skills, set a high-energy vibe, give the other person something to react to and don’t take questions too literally.

1. Establish a high-energy vibe, right from the outset. 
2. Learn how to respond charismatically to standard questions, such as “Where are you from?” and “What are you doing for a living?”  Provide them with a layered “velcro” answer to which they can attach themselves. Prepare well-crafted responses to these sorts of standard questions.
3. In informal conversations, most people don’t want an interaction that feels like a job interview. So the 3rd hack is to not take questions too literally. Choose to answer a question in a non-literal fashion or purposefully misinterpret it. 

Improve your comedy skills, as humor is helpful in any type of communication and can act as a pressure release tool.

Humor can help release tension in a wide array of touchy social interactions such as a debate or a difficult conversation. Remember that when things get heated, it’s time to crack a joke.

“People want to have much more fun than they are having...so if you could be the person that breaks them out of a serious moment…they are going to appreciate you [and] want you around more. ”

Don’t be afraid of fun. Think of your back and forth almost like an improvisational comedy skit in which your conversational partner can participate. You can prime yourself by watching your favorite comedy or comedian before you interact with another person. If you are really serious about becoming more masterful at humor, you can take an improv comedy class.