What does it mean to be likeable? Do leaders need to be likeable?
Two main characteristics sought for in leaders (1) competence and (2) warmth. The mixture of the two is the golden zone. Leaders can increase their warmth by increasing their likeability as Dale Carnegie outlines in his book, How to Make Friends & Influence People.
I feel like people often overlook likeability. As people try to rise to the top, they say “I don’t care if I am liked,” or “I don’t need to be friends or liked to be the boss.”
However, the people who are achieve success can do both. I agree that likeability is not always about being friends. As a leader, I agree you don’t need to be friends with every person you lead, but exhibit likeability. Likeability comes from making others feel good by interacting with you.
Studies show people don’t always remember what you say or do, but they do always remember how you made them feel.
Dale Carnegie’s book and 6 principles into how to make people like you shows us the skills needed to enable positive interactions, make others feel valued, and be likeable.
1. Become genuinely interested in others
Care about people as people.
2. Smile
Smiling tells others that you’re engaged and enjoy their company.
3. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
We know that in a noisy room filled with countless conversations, you can hear your name spoken in any conversation. Use it to your advantage, people will listen and engage when they hear you say their name!
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
Most people’s favorite thing to do is to talk about themselves — let people do their favorite thing and encourage it!
5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
Engage the other person and see the conversation from their point of view.
6. Make the other person feel important — and do it sincerely.
Everyone desires to feel important and doing so through words/actions is absolutely free.
