Is there any place for charm in businesses?

Ronald Reagan, Hollywood Actor and US President showing his undeniable charm.

Charm is an old fashioned word. It may seem more applicable to describing the appeal of 1940s movie stars than a useful quality for those looking to succeed in the modern workplace to seek. By many it can even either be seen as a weakness (that you are not task focussed or ruthless enough), or as evidence of some form of devious or underhand intent to persuade others (maybe most often when referring to politicians or salespeople!). However, whilst we might sometimes use different words (like charisma for one) - I think we still talk about people's charm, or lack of it, quite a lot. Whether it's thinking about whether our team members have the softer skills to progress to the next level of leading a business or team, or considering whether a particular politician has the necessary qualities to negotiate a beneficial deal with our international allies! Charm is defined as simply "the power or quality of delighting, attracting, or fascinating others" I am sure most of our workplaces could do with a few more people who were particularly skilled at that couldn't we? Being intelligent, knowledgeable, and highly competent are all great prerequisites for getting on and succeeding in your chosen sphere, but what a cold, humourless, and ultimately frustrating place it would be without a little personal charm to oil the wheels!

So if you'd like to be a little more charming at work, but struggle to think how to retain your authenticity, here are some quick tips on being more charming with others you interact with:

- Always be glad to see people - and shake hands when you can - it gives you an excuse for good, positive eye contact.

- Get good with remembering people's names and using them.

- Look for areas of agreement in conversations - not points of difference.

- Listen more to others, talk about yourself less.

- Ask others open questions to get them to talk about themselves

- Treat everyone with pleasant charm, even those outside your sphere or below you in the pecking order.

- Ask others open questions to get them to talk about themselves

- Be confident to own and admit to your own flaws and openly use them to win friends and ask advice from others.

Plus charm can be infectious, so give it a go, and you'll probably find you receive more in return!