Being someone that people find it easy to like is very important for your personal life and also your professional one. But if you struggle to make friends or be popular enough at work to get that promotion, the good news is that it is possible to learn how to be more likeable and it’s all thanks to science.
Being popular is something everyone wants, so it’s no surprise that there have been many studies into how we can do it. To help you on the right path, QuickQuid has come up a guide to 12 science-backed ways to get people to like you:
Making friends can seem difficult for many people, but these 12 tips will help you start to show off that you are somebody that anyone would be lucky to have as a friend or valued colleague. Which of them will you try first?
Being popular is something everyone wants, so it’s no surprise that there have been many studies into how we can do it. To help you on the right path, QuickQuid has come up a guide to 12 science-backed ways to get people to like you:
Emphasize your similarities
There’s such a thing as the ‘similarity attraction effect’, according to social psychologist Theodore Newcomb, where people are attracted to those who are similar to them, so if you want someone to like you, find shared interests you can talk about and avoid talking about things you disagree on.Use their name
Dale Carnegie knew all about making friends and influencing people, and he once said: “A person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Making the effort to remember the name of the person you are talking to shows them that you value them and makes them more likely to warm to you.Also Read: 7 Visualization Techniques to Calm Your Anxious Mind
Use mirroring
A New York University study showed that you can create more of a bond with somebody by subtly mirroring their gestures and body language - like their vocal tone, hand gestures, etc. Make sure you are being subtle though, as being very obvious about mirroring them could give all kinds of wrong impressions.Give compliments and reap the rewards too
When you compliment somebody, you should be doing it because you want to make them feel good, but you can also get the additional benefit of ‘spontaneous trait transference’, which is where the other person also associates those positive traits with you as well as themselves. Remember to make the compliment actually about them rather than yourself though.Open up to them
If you want someone to like and trust you, it makes sense that you would need to open yourself up to them and be honest about your feelings and experiences, and this has been backed up by a State University of New York study. So share your thoughts and feelings and offer appropriate insights into your life.Recommended: Where to Find Motivation When You Need It
Be loyal and trustworthy
Another way of earning the trust and friendship of others is to demonstrate with your actions and words that you are somebody of good character. One way to do this is to avoid gossiping about people you know, as this shows you won’t talk about them behind their back either.Be funny
A study by DePaul University and Illinois State University showed that a good sense of humor is a powerful first impression, but be aware of where your humor works best. If it’s in telling jokes, do that, but if you’re not a natural, stick to funny stories or observations.Show them that you like them
The ‘reciprocity of liking’ is what it’s called when you get somebody to like you by demonstrating through your actions that you like that as well. You can do this by looking out for them in a crowd or responding to their messages quickly.Use body language
A study by Princeton University found that people react better to new people who keep their body language open, so avoid folding your arms and keep your palms open.Use connective listening
People will be more likely to respond and build a rapport with you if you use connective listening, which is listening to understand their point, rather than just waiting for your turn to talk. You can demonstrate this by asking questions that show that you are involved and are about them, rather than an excuse to turn the conversation to be about you.Smile
The University of Wyoming did a study where people were shown photographs of a woman in four different posing and the one most liked best was where she was smiling, so when first meeting someone, make sure you do it with a smile.Spend time with people you want to be friends with
The ‘mere exposure’ effect was uncovered by the University of Pittsburgh and means that people will feel more positively towards you if they see you often, so try to arrange casual meet-ups with them. Even if you’re just part of a larger group, you’ll be more likely to encourage them to like you.Making friends can seem difficult for many people, but these 12 tips will help you start to show off that you are somebody that anyone would be lucky to have as a friend or valued colleague. Which of them will you try first?
){kind=link}