Bill Clinton: His charismatic secrets

Nov. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- "Since I first began to study charisma, I have changed my beliefs about what it is all about a lot. Getting the opportunity to work with Michael was an amazing experience"  Owen Fitzpatrick is referring to earlier this year when he got individual coaching from a former speech and communication advisor to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Michael Sheenan has been working with presidents and presidential candidates for over twenty years.

Sheenan specializes in helping the candidate master their message and revealed many of the fascinating strategies employed by his high profile clients such as the Clintons.

Owen continues "Since I completed my Psychology Masters thesis on Charisma over seven years ago, I have continued to study the concept of charisma. Having visited gurus in India, Shaman in South America, Top Media Coaches and Billionaires… I have been constantly on a search for lessons that we can all learn to improve how we come across to others."

Owen reckons Bill Clinton is a great example of a charismatic leader. His southern accent reminds us of the powerful preachers known for their ability to inspire.

"Clinton connected and he inspired. He had an ability to make his audience feel as though as individuals they were each the most important person in the room. His use of eye contact, infectious smile and self-awareness ensured that he made a powerful impact on those he met" says Owen.

"Clinton would use plenty of personal examples and connect with those he spoke to in that moment so it felt like he was really engaging with them".

Charisma has, of course, a natural quality to it but there are specific skills that can hugely boost how charismatic an impression you create in the other persons mind.

Some of these patterns include: using the persons name, using the pronoun 'you' and making it more informal, smiling and the concept of 'impression formation'. This means constructing an image of yourself in another persons mind through the way you tell your stories.

They also include using personal examples that people can relate to and the use of strategic repetition in the use of key phrases. These are just some of the techniques employed by Clinton when he weaves his magic.

Fitzpatrick teaches courses on charisma. On an up-coming Charisma Bootcamp in December, he brings together a number of special guests from a comedian to a stylist, a magician to a voice coach…"it's all about focusing on how to make the best possible impression on the mind of another person".

The Charisma Bootcamp is an exciting 4 day event taking place in the Burlington Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland.  It involves 8 guest speakers including comedian Karl Spain, Off The Rails co-presenter Sonya Lennon and Owen Fitzpatrick, presenter of Not Enough Hours.

http://www.charisma.ie/more-details

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Anna Aparicio is the Event Co-ordinator for The Charisma Bootcamp. A qualified and well renowned IINLP/Hypnosis Coach and Self-Image Expert in her own right, Anna works individually with those facing self confidence issues and motivation.