Hey everyone, and welcome to Top Think! Today, we're going to learn about five easy steps to be instantly charming. Now, let's begin. Number one: the power of a genuine introduction. Greetings are like the first page of a book; they give your audience a glimpse into the kind of story that they're about to read.

If it's an epic battle with dragons and monsters, then they're expecting an action-packed fantasy. If it's a letter to someone's lost love, then they're expecting romance or drama. My point is, your introduction sets the tone; it tells people what to expect. Now, as you might have guessed, these expectations affect their perception of your personality.

When people expect something, they look for it. They're more likely to find it, even if it's not there. It isn't much different from the placebo effect. The placebo effect is when your brain convinces your body that a fake treatment is actually working. Now, of course, you don't know it's fake; you think you've been taking real medication, but in reality, they were just sugar pills.

So, how do introductions use the placebo effect? Well, let's say you enter a conversation with a charming introduction. You're happy and confident; you give a good firm handshake, you smile, and look them in the eye. Right off the bat, people will think highly of you. You set a positive tone; you made sure that the first page of your book reads charming and charismatic. So from then on, people will assume that's your personality, just like someone assumes the medicine that they're taking is real.

Ah, but here's the catch: for introductions and the placebo effect, it all falls apart if no one believes you. Just think about what happens when a patient figures out that they're taking sugar pills. Obviously, they feel deceived, and the...

Treatment isn't going to work. Even if the sugar pills cured other patients, it won't do anything for them. Introductions fail for the same reason: if you're not Jenny, no one's going to believe you. You won't create those expectations. You have to sell your first impression and make sure that you

your audience buys it. So when you smile, smile because you mean it. Smile because you're happy to see them. And when you make eye contact, show them that you actually want to establish a personal connection. Real charm isn't something you can lie about; you can work on it, you can practice it, you

can alter your behavior to become more inviting and charismatic, but you can't fake it. Luckily, the best time to show someone that you're genuine is right at the beginning. By perfecting your introduction, people won't just wonder if you're charming; they'll really believe it. Number two:

instant facial judgments. Some people will judge your charm based solely on your appearance, and it may only take them a tenth of a second. In that extremely short period of time, they look at your face, analyze your features, and decide whether or not you're likable. Now, is that

reliable? No. Is it accurate? Probably not. But that doesn't stop people from doing it all the time. In fact, a 2005 study predicted elections based solely on these snap judgments. Participants only needed one second—that's one second—to look at someone's face and judge their personality. But

it wasn't just random; people made the same judgments about the same candidates. Certain traits made them appear more competent, while others made them seem more dependable. That's how researchers correctly predicted almost 70 percent of the Senate races in 2004. All they did was pick the candidates with

the most likable face, man, they were usually right. So how can you use these snap judgments to your advantage? While you can't control the shape of your face, there are physical changes that will make you more charming. For example, people are drawn to physical health. Now I'm not saying you have to be a professional athlete; in fact, being too fit or too muscular decreases your charm. But maintaining a healthy weight works in your favor. A 2011 study found that people with average or slightly below average weights are viewed as more intelligent and likable, and the

same goes for cleanliness. Good personal hygiene has a huge impact on people. Little things like a neat haircut or clear skin show people that you care. It says that your appearance matters to you; it means that you're willing to put in the effort. Finally, some of your physical charm comes from your wardrobe, but you don't need the most expensive suits or dresses. Just like health and hygiene, people want to see effort. Just take some time to research what people are wearing, find out what's appropriate and what's not. It might seem like a waste of time, but a little work goes a

long way. Remember that you've only got a tenth of a second to work with here. So as you're improving your appearance, here's a little trick that'll give you some direction: pick a word. Maybe it's charming, maybe it's intelligent, confident, or funny. Whatever it is, your goal is to embody that word not only in things that you say but also in the way you look.

Number three: losing social competitions. Charm isn't about blowing people away. This is actually a really common misconception. You're not supposed to charm others by impressing them; you win them over by letting them impress you. Just think about

You're not supposed to charm others by impressing them; you win them over by letting them impress you. Just think about it.

Any social interaction, like a race, how does it feel to get first place? It's pretty great, right? You're proud, your confidence is high, and you feel empowered. Now, what about second place? You're still proud, you're still confident, but it's kind of bittersweet; a part of you wishes you had run a little bit faster.

Maybe then you'd be standing at the top of the podium. You'd be the one showing off your gold medal. Social interactions work in a similar way. There aren't any medals, but there are winners and losers. You can walk away from a conversation feeling great about yourself, or you can walk away feeling weak and insecure.

By trying to impress people, you're going for the gold; you want them to admire you. You paint this image of yourself as flawless and accomplished, and sure, it makes you feel great, but charm isn't about how you feel—it's about how other people feel because of you. When you're constantly winning, you have to remember how they feel because your wins are their losses.

So if you want to be more charming, try flipping the script. Make them feel like winners. When they tell you about their job, be interested. When they tell you about their accomplishments, be impressed. Give them compliments; acknowledge their hard work. You see, charming people aren't afraid to step out of the spotlight. They don't need attention to feel good about themselves; they can lose a conversation without feeling insecure.

People really like that kind of confident vulnerability. So don't worry about impressing everyone in the room. Stop trying to be the alpha in every conversation. Instead, make a habit of losing gracefully, and that way, people will genuinely enjoy being around you. Number four: strategic unraveling. Losing social competitions isn't the only way to win people over; you can do it in other ways as well.

something similar by making them the center of attention. Now, there is a right and a wrong way to do this. Even if you're not the center of attention, you still have to talk, you have to seem interested, and you have to be involved in the conversation. Most importantly, you have to

listen carefully to what they're saying. Now, I'm not telling you to memorize every word, but you do need enough information to ask some interesting questions. When talking to a stranger, questions are your most powerful tool. Right now, that person is like a tightly wound ball of yarn, but every time

you ask a good question, well, they unravel just a little bit more. Now, of course, some questions unravel more than others. The best questions start with one of two things: how or why. If someone is telling you about a trip they took, ask why they chose their destination. If they're raving about a

sale they made, ask how they did it. The questions are simple, but the answers aren't. You're asking to learn more about the way someone thinks or feels. Doing that says you're not only thoughtful but humble and modest too. It means that you can set your own ego aside and focus on someone else

People find this incredibly charming. So, the next time you start up a conversation, focus on asking the right kind of questions. You'll be surprised how fast complete strangers will feel calm and comfortable around you. Number 5: standing on common ground. Nothing can ruin a relationship

faster than a difference in opinion. Even small disagreements create tension and discomfort. If you've known this person for a while, you can usually get past it, but strangers aren't nearly as forgiving. That's because one interaction is all they have to go off of; it determines

their entire opinion of you. So if they're only going to see one side of you, it shouldn't be how different you are. You should highlight your similarities. Charming people immediately look for common ground by listening to your stories. They hone in on all the little things that you share. Maybe you both love to go camping, or you both like to play the same sports. It doesn't matter what it is; the simple fact that you have something in common adds to their charm. The more they reinforce those commonalities, the more likable they seem. Hey, thank you for watching TopThink, and be sure to subscribe because more incredible content is on the way.

share. Maybe you both love to go camping, or you both like to play the same sports. It doesn't matter what it is; the simple fact that you have something in common adds to their charm. The more they reinforce those commonalities, the more likable they seem. Hey, thank you for watching TopThink, and be sure to subscribe because more incredible content is on the way.

watching TopThink, and be sure to subscribe because more incredible content is on the way.

5 Easy Steps to Be Instantly Charming!

5 Easy Steps to Be Instantly Charming!