Streamline Training & Documentation: Likability

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Likability

Never underestimate the power of winning hearts along with minds. Likability¹ is a real asset when you're trying to persuade someone to do something, whether it's buying your brand of painkiller, or supporting a project you believe your company should pursue, or whatever.

Of course, evidence and logic are also important for reaching sound decisions. Still, since likability plays such a strong role, it behooves one to cultivate the traits that contribute to likability, notably empathy, humor, and authenticity.

If you decide that enhancing your likability is an improvement opportunity for you, a good approach is to encourage people you trust to coach you. It's hard to know how you're coming across to others (even if you're good at reading body english, a lot of people are just as good at maintaining a neutral demeanor), so you need feedback.

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¹ Tim Sanders, author of The Likeability Factor, defines likability as "an ability to create positive attitudes in other people through the delivery of emotional and physical benefits."

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Labels: Competencies

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