The Laws of Charisma

CHAPTER 17

PEOPLE SKILLS:DO THEY REALLY LIKE YOU?

The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.

—THEODORE ROOSEVELT

The ability to connect with most people is critical for charisma. Many times an attempt to gain rapport using people skills is perceived as overeagerness, trying way too hard, or insincerity. The old-school idea of looking around someone’s office to find something to talk about will usually backfire on you for two reasons. First, the technique has been overused and abused. Second, you are coming across as fake and disingenuous. The key is to read people when you meet them. Find out how they want to be treated. If your people skills work with personality A, they may not work ...