Have you ever walked into a room and met someone who immediately makes you feel like an old friend, even though you've just met?
Or ever chatted with someone who listens attentively and makes you feel like you are the most important human being on the planet?
You may have noticed that these charismatic people seem to just glide through any situation with an air of calm confidence and grace. Everyone wants to be their pal.

So what is it that sets these people apart from the rest of us poor mortals? What traits do they share? Are certain people simply born with charismatic abilities or can they be learnt?

Charisma refers to a rare characteristic found in certain human personalities usually including great charm and a 'magnetic' quality of persona and/or appearance along with a commanding capacity to communicate persuasively.

A person with a magnetic personality makes everybody he or she interacts with feel empowered or validated. The positive energy and the selfless interest in the other person makes someone with a magnetic personality very well-liked indeed.

Charismatic individuals usually project remarkable calmness, self-confidence, assertiveness, supremacy, genuineness, and focus, and nearly always possess outstanding communication and/or oratorical talent.

Here is a list of the most common traits found in charismatic people.

Universal Traits:
Open body posture, hands away from face when talking, stands up straight, relaxed, hands apart with palms forward or upwards

When addressing an individual:
Letting people know they count and you enjoy being around them, cultivate a sincere smile, nod in agreement when they talk, briefly touch them on the upper arm, and keep eye contact

When addressing a group:
Is comfortable as leader, move around to appear enthusiastic, lean a little forward and look at all parts of the group

Delivering the message:
Moves ahead of status quo and make a difference, be controversial, new, easy to understand, counter-intuitive

Verbal communication:
Being clear, fluent, dynamic and articulate, evoking imagery, using an positive tempo, occasionally slow for tension or emphasis.

How can we use this in our personal lives?
IE. Praising your partner... you’re so clever... and praising/supporting those around you, "I am so proud of you".

Offering to help out or pitch-in. “Sure I can help”...

Give out to get back 10 fold.

Research has shown that people often don’t stray beyond a marriage or have affairs because someone else has made them feel nice about themselves. Compliment, praise and make your partner feel wonderful about themself, each time the opportunity arises. Chances are extremely good that they’ll catch on to your drift and the compliments will come your way too!

So how can you improve your charisma?
Be ready to interact. When you arrive at a party, event or anyplace conversations will take place, prepare yourself before you arrive. Be ready with conversation topics, questions and stories in the back of your mind as soon as you meet someone. This will help you sidestep awkward small talk.

Focus on common point of interest. It's an essential component in every conversation and interaction. Your duty, as you meet new people, or even as you talk with those you already know, is to uncover the common point of interest as quickly as possible. It aids establish a bond between you and others. It increases your approachability and allows them to feel more comfortable talking with you.

Add some enthusiasm to your answers. You've heard loads of ineffective questions in your interactions, questions like "How's it going?" "What's up?" or "How are you?" When such questions arise, do not fall into the trap of responding, "All right." In its place offer a flavoured reply: "Amazing!" "Any better, and I'd be twins!" or "Everything is beautiful." The other person will immediately change his or her demeanour, smile and, most of the time, inquire what made you answer that way. Why? Because nobody expects it. Not just that, but giving a genuine reply to magnify the way you feel is a perfect way to share yourself or make yourself personally available to other people.

Do not cross your arms. Even if you're cold, bored, weary or just do not want to be there, don't cross your arms. It makes you look defensive, tense, judgmental, close-minded or sceptical. It's a simple, subliminal, nonverbal cue that says, "Stay away." People see crossed arms, and they drift away. They do not want to trouble you. You're not accessible.

Be Genuine. Nothing is more attractive than being real. Genuineness creates a unbreakable emotional bond. Being genuine allows for trusting and lasting relationships.