How to Become a Charming Person

Being a charming person can get you a long way, whether you want extra hot fudge on your ice cream sundae or an upgrade to first class on a cross-country flight. A charming demeanor can make the difference between coach and first class. Are you charming? If not, simply follow these simple steps and you'll be charming the pants off of people in no time at all.

Instructions

1. Dress well. A person will form an opinion about you in six seconds. That is barely enough time to greet them! You will be sized up based on your appearance. Make sure your clothes are neat and wrinkle-free. Practice good hygiene. Do not wear overpowering cologne or perfume.

2. Smile. Your smile is your best asset, as it conveys many different unspoken signals to other people. You can smile upon your greeting to let a person know that you are happy to see her. You can smile during your conversation to let her know that you are listening. You can smile when something amuses you. You can smile and nod to relate to someone's story. There is a smile for all different sorts of situations. Practice your smile for different occasions.

3. Be a good and an active listener. Smile and nod. Make eye contact and focus on the person whom you are speaking with. Do not cut him off, but do add to the conversation. Few things are more charming than a good conversationalist. Ask open-ended questions about the person with whom you are speaking. Try to talk more about him than about yourself. No one likes a braggart.

4. Firmly shake the hand of the person that you meet, greet or bid farewell to. No one likes a limp handshake. Don't squeeze too hard. Firmly shaking a person's hand lets the person know that you are genuine.

5. Be well-versed in many things. Whether you are well-traveled or well-read, it is good to have knowledge about a variety of topics. Do not be a know-it-all, however. It is charming to be able to find common ground with the people you meet; it is obnoxious to correct their views. Be sure to keep an open mind.

6. Mind your manners! Notice how James Bond is so polite? That is how he always ends up with the girl. Sip your drink out of a glass; don't chug it out of a bottle. Watch your language, especially in front of the opposite sex.

Tips & Warnings

• Be yourself. Even if you have rough edges, smooth them out, and you will find that the charm comes easy.

• Don't be a phony. Most people can see through a fake facade a mile away.