How to Be a More Likable Person
Being liked in the world isn't always an easy feat. A lot of people are judgemental and make decisions too quickly. Rumors can ruin your reputation, and it isn't simple to erase other people's opinions.
Learning how to become more likable is easier than you may think, and it just requires self-control, strength, and patience.
How to Know if You Are a Likable Person
Several different factors can determine whether or not you are already likable.
1. People ask for your opinion.
When your opinion holds value, there is a reason. People like you and trust that you are smart. If you find yourself surrounded by people searching for advice from you, there is a reason. You come off as likable and trustworthy to them.
2. People pay attention to what you have to say.
Your opinions in a group setting matter to those surrounding you, and this is telling if the people are letting you lead them. When people are okay with following you, it is because you are charismatic and have won them over. With a pack mentality, it is natural for humans to be drawn to stronger forces, especially if other people are also drawn to them.
3. People wait for your reaction.
In a room full of people, if people look at you to see how you react to decide how they will react, it is likely because you are the most likable person there. The more you are around people who seem to follow you, the more likable you will seem.
4. People find you funny.
If people seem to laugh with you rather than at you, it is because they enjoy your humor and find you likable. No one wants to be the butt of the joke, so you need to make sure they aren't laughing at your expense.
Advantages of Being a Likable Person
There are plenty of advantages to being a likable person. Here are a few:
1. Natural leader.
If you are likable, you'll draw in the loyalty and interest of many people. Being likable is being agreeable and having a base of people who will often follow your lead at any given time.
2. Friendships.
You'll have friends that you can always count on because you know that they genuinely like you. If they can depend on you, then you should be able to depend on them. This is a great opportunity to build many great relationships.
3. Respect from others.
Earning the respect of others will take you a long way in life. When you have others' respect, you'll have people to lift you up and support you. Along with that, you won't have to worry about being alone, because those people who appreciate you will always trust you and be there for you.
4. Privilege.
One of the greatest advantages to becoming likable is the privilege it brings you. You will be able to get away with more things because everyone likes you, and sees the best in you. If you are likable, your humor can be edgier, and fewer people will judge you. You will always be the first choice for many things, and people of authority will tend to favor you.
Disadvantages of Being a Likable Person
Although being likable is great, there are still several reasons as to why it isn't as wonderful as others make it.
1. You're always expected to be nice.
Even if you're having the worst day of your life, everyone still looks to you to be the bigger person. Even when someone doesn't deserve for you to turn the other cheek, you are still expected to. If you come off as mean or rude to someone, people will notice, and you may become less likable. Once you have a good reputation, you'll learn that it is scarily easy to lose it.
2. Desire to be liked by everyone.
Once you realize the advantages of being likable, it becomes an addiction. You'll constantly be striving to be liked by everyone, and it will severely negatively impact you when someone doesn't like you. How everyone feels about you will become one of the most important parts impacting your self-esteem.
3. You'll always be approached by others for advice.
You may not have signed up to be a therapist, but being super likable comes with its underlying requirements. When everyone learns that you will listen and give great advice, they will take advantage of that. You may start to feel emotionally drained due to the hours of your time you lose taking care of other peoples' problems.
How to Be a More Likable Person
Although it takes time, it is worth it to work towards being a more likable person. Here are some of the methods to try:
1. Listen to others.
Learning and practicing active listening will make others like you almost immediately. If you can genuinely show interest and pay attention to the things other people are saying, they'll be drawn to you. The more you can listen, rather than speak out of turn, you'll be seen as much more respectful.
2. Team spirit.
A great step to becoming more likable is acting as if you are leading a team, rather than winning life alone. Instead of taking on every task alone and only trusting yourself, you have to open up to others and give cooperative moments a chance. This way, you can slowly build a team of people around you that will respect you and appreciate you as a leader.
3. Make more jokes.
The most likable person in a room is often the funniest person in the room. If you can bolster your sense of humor and learn how to make people laugh, everyone will love you. Even if you are nervous, it is best to try to make more jokes than stay in silence. If you find that no one is laughing, you may want to take some time to practice and improve your sense of humor.
4. Smile more.
If you want people to like you and be drawn to you, you can't scare them off with a constant frown. Being a loner just isn't really an option. You could try smiling more often, as it will make you look friendlier. The more warm and welcoming you can be to others, the more likable you will be. The nicest person in the room is often the most liked.
5. Avoid aggression.
Even if you feel overwhelming feelings of anger or frustration, it is best to remain calm and collected. If you show your angry side to others, they will hesitate to be around you. Even if it seems like you are being attacked, refrain from becoming defensive. To be more likable, you should take every comment with a grain of salt, put on a brave face, and show people that their words don't affect you. You will be able to show people just how strong you are, and it will impress everyone.
6. Think before you speak.
You can't control your first thought, but you can always control your second thoughts. And you most definitely can choose what you say first. The strongest leader and the most likable person is someone who chooses their words wisely. Everything you say and how you say it matters a lot more than you may think. If you want to be likable all of the time, you have to say the right thing, all of the time.
7. Practice kindness.
When you can open your eyes and see the good in others, it will be easier to be nice to people. Seeing the best in everyone will help them to see the best in you, even when they aren't the nicest of people. If you give other people a chance, they will likely return the favor.
The golden rule of treating others how you want to be treated will always stand, especially if you want to be more likable. Doing small acts of service for others and being mindful of their situations will go a long way for any friendship or relationship that you have.
Wrapping Up
Working on yourself will lead to other people liking you, which is almost always a great thing. With the many advantages and disadvantages of being the most likable person, it is up to you to decide how likable you want to be.
With the knowledge of this article, you have the power to decide how likable you will become. As you grow as a person, you will notice how you fall into a leadership position in life. Other people will be drawn to you, and you can reap the benefits of being likable. Just try not to get so caught up in it all that you lose who you are.
No matter what, stay true to yourself. Becoming more likable is about improving yourself, so don't go about things the wrong way. Being genuine is essential to growing as a person. And the more you improve yourself, the more others will notice. If you can become a better person and be better to others, everyone will have no reason but to like you.