COMPETENCE IS KNOWLEDGE

A critical ingredient to radiating charisma and enhancing your

ability
to influence others is to have comprehensive competence,
knowledge, or expertise in the area where others expect you
to have
it. Being a role model is hard if your audience thinks that you
have
no idea what you are talking about or don’t have the needed
or
perceived abilities. If they have not seen (or heard) you do
what
you are asking them to do, they are less willing to let you
take the
lead. Rebellion and resentment result when you ask others to
do
things they know you aren’t willing to do yourself. True
charismatic
people model the correct way to do what they want others to
do.
You have to set the standard and be the example of
competence
before you become truly influential.
Competence consists of your knowledge and capability in
your
field. Competence comes from lifelong learning and
experience.
When people are observing you, they subconsciously assign
you a
certain level of competency. Can you really do what others
expect
of you? Can you deliver what you promise? Does your
audience
think you have the skills, the talent, the knowledge, and the
resources?
They will find out eventually. Become and remain an expert
in your field. One way to keep your competency on track is to
be a continuous learner. Competence is also learning from
your
mistakes and always using experience as a future tool of your
expertise.
Become the best in your field. Make it obvious you are
beyond
proficient.
You’ve heard it before and you know it is true: Knowledge is
power. Your knowledge is based on your expertise on a
certain
topic, system, or situation. Having more knowledge or
expertise
than your audience enhances your charisma. For example,
lawyers,
mechanics, and pharmacists possess knowledge power. We
rely on
these professionals’ opinions, believe what they say, and
trust them
because of the training or experience they bring to their
fields.
Competence increases when you know something your
audience
needs to know—such as facts, information, or data—or have
access
to resources—such as people, property, goods, or even
services—
that are valued by others. Are you perceived as having the
right
affiliations? What connections do you have?
Passion is a great thing to have, but without the perception of
competence you cannot radiate charisma or influence
anyone. True
competence is when you combine your ability, capabilities,
and
skills. Having competence increases your expertise, enhances
charisma,
and commands respect from your audience.