Fake it ‘til you make it

You may not consider yourself a charismatic person but according to a new book, you can learn how to project the right combination of strength and warmth.

FEW books can make a credible claim to change your life but I may have found one that does. Compelling People: The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential argues that charisma isn’t just a character trait some lucky people are born with. It’s something we can all emulate and learn. I’ve spent a week putting the authors’ tips to the test and am now converted to their way of thinking.

John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut are American communications experts who specialise in tutoring corporate executives, politicians and media personalities in public speaking. They have drawn on this experience to write an insightful book that has already become required reading at Harvard Business School.