This particular post hits me between the eyes because this trait goes against my natural style. Malinda Tamkins of Columbia University did a study that showed success is guaranteed by your POPULARITY, not by what or whom you know! (These excerpts are from an article by Pam Holloway in the July ‘07 issue of Business North Carolina.) (Personal Note: I believe that professionalism and knowledge are factored into success also. Here, though, is a gem of truth!)
Now, me being task oriented and leaning more towards quality control and an analytical approach to life have to work at the relational/likeability side.
Research has shown that likeable people:
- Are more successful in business and in life.
- Get elected, promoted and rewarded more often.
- Close more sales and make more money.
- Get better service from service providers, including doctors.
“The Likeability Factor” by Tim Sanders lists Four Elements that contribute to likeability:
- Friendliness – Your ability to communicate liking and openness to others.
- Relevance – Your capacity to connect with others’ interests, wants and needs.
- Empathy – Your ability to recognize, acknowledge, and experience other people’s feelings.
- Realness – The integrity that’s behind your likeability and guarantees your authenticity.
Your personality style is also important (those who are more people oriented are naturally more likeable) but, anyone can improve in this area. Some of us just have to work harder at it.
Research and experience have shown that these Seven Factors are integral for likeability:
- Positive Mental Attitude. You can find a better direction out of a problem, rather than wallowing in the problem or negative emotion.
- Non-Judgmental. Recognizing that everyone is trying to get by the best they know how; treating everyone with respect and understanding.
- Open. Being flexible, open to new people, other ideas, and different ways of doing things.
- Secure. Being comfortable with who you are, in your own skin, without the need to talk incessantly or make jokes or brag or…
- Vulnerable. Able to admit mistakes and show a sensitivity.
- Able to Get Outside of Self. Becoming relevant in others’ lives, the ability to focus on them (instead of me) and their interests, wants and needs.
- Like Me. We like people who like us. We also like people who are like us. Studies have shown that the better we know a person through more exposure to him/her, the more we like the person; we are more attracted to and tend to like people who are more familiar to us.
Go back and review the Four Elements and the Seven Factors: Where do you need to improve? How are you going to track you improvement? Be more genuinely likeable and you WILL be more successful and happy.
Dick McCormick – Biz Success with Less
For more business success tips, go to www.bizsucccesswithless.com
Tags: Likeability, Popularity, Success
