{"id":34342,"date":"2016-10-28T04:45:17","date_gmt":"2016-10-28T09:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/?p=34342"},"modified":"2016-10-28T04:45:17","modified_gmt":"2016-10-28T09:45:17","slug":"likability-quotient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/likability-quotient\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Easy Ways to Boost Your Likability Quotient"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever wonder why some people are likable and others aren\u2019t? Without a high likability quotient, it\u2019s tough to succeed in almost any area of life\u2014especially as a leader or entrepreneur.<\/p>\n\n

If you want to win with people, they not only have to know you; they also have to trust you. Likability is the bridge between the two. It\u2019s a prerequisite to trust. Why? I\u2019m not going to trust<\/a> someone I don\u2019t like.<\/p>\n

Every now and then you meet someone who\u2019s a complete jerk. I\u2019ve worked with a few like that over the years. The worst was a guy who ran the small motors shop where I worked one summer in college.<\/p>\n\n

I knew just about nothing when he hired me. But no matter how much I learned and grew in the job, he constantly belittled me. He even humiliated me in front of our customers.<\/p>\n

But get this. At the end of summer, he asked me to stay on. He even offered to up my pay and give me a promotion. Are you serious?<\/em> There was no way. I\u2019d met snakes more likable than this guy.<\/p>\n

Perks and pay only go so far, right? Unlikable leaders are like talent repellant. They won\u2019t keep high-quality teammates for long. And that\u2019s a shame because it\u2019s really not that hard to be likable.<\/p>\n

\"likability-bridge-v2\"<\/p>\n

Here are seven easy ways you can improve your likability quotient and up your trust with the people you meet and work with.<\/p>\n

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  1. Smile more.<\/strong> Smiling is ground zero for likability. It puts people at ease and draws them in. It\u2019s also contagious, so it lifts everyone\u2019s mood. Of course, the reverse is also true.\n

    I once had a consultant pull me aside in a meeting and ask if I was angry. No, I said. \u201cThen you might want to let your face know,\u201d she said<\/a>, \u201cbecause it looks like you are ticked off! It\u2019s intimidating and shutting people down.\u201d Not what I was going for.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. Remember people\u2019s names.<\/strong> This isn\u2019t easy<\/a> for most of us. And that\u2019s all the more reason to try to improve. It sets you apart and gives you an edge. Why? People love being remembered and acknowledged by name.\n

    As Dale Carnegie said, \u201cA person\u2019s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.\u201d There are a lot of different tricks for improving this skill. Here\u2019s the simplest one<\/a> I know.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Look in people\u2019s eyes.<\/strong> Looking into people\u2019s eyes communicates interest and worth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    My college boss never looked me in the eye when he talked to me. Whatever he told me, his body language said, \u201cYou don\u2019t matter right now.\u201d But when we connect eye-to-eye we demonstrate how much we value and appreciate the other person.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Ask questions.<\/strong> People love talking about themselves<\/a>. That\u2019s important to know for two reasons. First, it\u2019s easy for leaders to monopolize conversations and alienate people. Watch for that!<\/p>\n

    Second, if you want to help people feel happy and engaged, giving them the freedom to talk about their own interests and projects is one of the easiest ways to do it. That starts by asking great questions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Listen carefully.<\/strong> It\u2019s not enough to ask questions, you need to really listen. We crave empathy and tend to like those who offer it to us.<\/p>\n

    The good news is that even if you don\u2019t consider yourself a good listener, anybody can develop this skill. Try these five practices<\/a>:<\/p>\n