What a difference a nose makes!

Charisma is absolutely not dependant on a persons physical appearance.
However natural beauty (as defined by the beholder) combined with a 'positve' charisma is irresitible.

It seems behaviour is the defining quality in terms of how we are perceived and recently we've been thinking about how much a combination of our physical looks and behaviour can affect the way we feel and vice versa. In other words can the way we look and behave alter our moods?

By simply 'acting as if' and behaving in a highly energised way ( with a positive attitude ) can we really affect a change in ourselves and those around us?

Apparently we can and some recent research has revealed that leaders considered to be charismatic and inspiring were those that were able to express, in their behaviour, positive emotions. It was also revealed that high energy behaviour created an emotional contagion that can quickly spread to others.

It is interesting to note that some of the great actors often work on the physical appearance of a character or person they are going to play in order to access the internal, emotional life of that character. Nicole Kidman certainly worked wonders with a false nose and Anthony Hopkins famously stared his way through the mind of a psychopath.

This is a very different approach to the the intense introspection of the American method actors like Streep, DeNiro and Pacino who relied very much on connecting their own psyche with the mind of a character first.

So, what if you were to begin behaving as if you were highly charismatic, whatever that means to you?

What might that look, sound and feel like?

Start from the 'outside in' and think about the following questions:

What would you need to wear that is different from how you currently dress?

How would you move your body: gesture, posture and style of walking etc?

How would the speed, tone, rhythm and pitch of your voice change?

What effect might it have on you?

What effect might you have on others?

How might that be different from the impact you make now?

Why not try it for a day and literally 'behave yourself' ?