The ability to engage, fascinate and delight others with a healthy dose of charisma and charm can be a powerful quality in the world of business. How you are perceived often bears a direct consequences on your business and your personal career progression.
With this in mind; what qualifies as charm?
Showing genuine appreciation of others
Appreciating people’s qualities at work, aids in building effective working relationships. Whether it’s your colleague’s ability to successfully meet deadlines, their kindhearted nature when remembering to make you a morning coffee, or simply maintaining a sunny disposition people need to feel valued. By noticing such positive character traits in people, work itself becomes more palatable as not only will people pick up on the fact that they are indeed appreciated and act accordingly; you yourself will gain a more positive outlook on your work environment.
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Demonstrating your human’ qualities
Those who are enjoyable to be around, who are friendly and approachable lead others to want to achieve for them. Although it is a manager’s responsibility to delegate tasks; there are two manners in which this can be achieved:
One – the boss pulls rank on those in lesser paid roles, makes unreasonable demands, and set unrealistic deadlines for work. A blame culture generally ensues within the office, causing fractured relationships and higher than average sick rates.
Two – the manager leads from the front, giving the information and material required for the employee to make the best possible job of the task in hand. Incentives and praise for good work are typically associated as by-products of this person’s management style.
Never underestimate the power of a smile, wave or friendly gesture such as offering a seat to someone when in your canteen. Appreciate that others may not yet have the confidence or experience that you possess. Many underestimate and even forget the importance of a professional’s tutelage and encouragement towards those who are in the first few years of their career.
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Generosity
If you are a smaller company, colleagues will be more than appreciative if you opt to pay for a round of drinks on a staff night out or, if you pick up the tab after a meal. Conversely, if you are part of a large conglomerate, it may be worth simply taking your more immediate team / co-workers out. Equally, not skimping on a Secret Santa present (provided it’s tasteful) is another way of showing generosity. However, generosity isn’t purely financial. Generosity of spirit, where you take responsibility for another’s mistake (a coffee stain, not having done the dishes or some other small gesture) can really make a difference just don’t overdo this last gesture!
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Being interested in people
Demonstrating the ability to listen well and remembering names is an essential skill. Interrupting someone when they are voicing their opinions or ideas is not only rude, it can also undermine that person’s confidence. Similarly, it is important to give back-channelling behaviour, where you nod, smile and interact with the person talking; this will ensure that you do not appear distracted or bored, which would also show a lack of respect. In short; treat others how you would like to be treated.
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Maintain a positive outlook
A medley of stresses from home, demands at work and other such factors can leave a person feeling dejected and even irritable. Constantly bemoaning the woes of the world, or snapping at colleagues will not lend a positive relationship between you and your co-workers. Consider what sort of person you are most impressed by at work. Usually they are un-phased by mounting demands and short deadlines. This person also seemingly has time for everyone who asks things of them and brings a certain joviality to the workplace.
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What function does charm service in a business environment?
The value of charm cannot be quantified in numerical terms, despite it having a direct impact on your business’ productivity. Worker happiness and efficiency is undoubtedly inextricably linked. Charm can also be employed as a subtle team-building strategy, as it aids in cementing employee bonds.
Outside of your immediate team, charm can also aid in areas such as; sealing important business deals. When used in the art of persuasion, people are generally more compliant and ready to meet any requests asked of them. In this manner new contacts can be obtained, leading to wider opportunities for both the individual and the company.
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