What's your "iq" ?
Your
involved quotient?
innovation quotient?
interesting quotient?
inspirational quotient?
"Learn to be more LIKEABLE?"
Nearly every interview I’ve conducted in search of the next Sales Star includes a candidates’ response “I’m great at Sales because I like people. I enjoy creating relationships.”
Aside from the fact that this clearly offers me – the one responsible for acquiring great Talent for the company – ZERO differentiation as to why I should hire YOU (vs all my other options)…
it is used so frequently, it begs further thought & consideration.
Webster’s defines LIKEABLE as ….having qualities that bring
about a favorable regard: pleasant, agreeable.
Like words would be: agreeable, amiable, appealing, attractive,
charming, engaging, enjoyable, friendly, genial, good-natured,
nice, pleasing, sympathetic, winning, positive
Are there varying degrees of LIKEABILITY?
Certainly, you experience that yourself everyday.
There are some you like a little… some you like A LOT…
perhaps others you don’t like at ALL!?
Believe it or not, you might have been a cute baby,
but you weren’t simply born with likeability –
these skills are acquired overtime.
Are the LIKEABILITY SKILLS worth developing?
Only if you desire long-term, sustainable success,
health & happiness. So… like all other choices in this life,
it’s UP TO YOU!
Here’s what we know for certain:
- Likeable People are more successful both in their business as well as personal lives.
- Likeable People get elected, rewarded, recognized, and promoted more often.
- Likeable People in SALES… close more deals and invariably make more money.
- Interestingly, Likeable People get better service whether at a restaurant, a grocery store or even by their DOCTORS…
- All of these factors add up to the fact that as a happier, more rewarded, healthier person, a LIKEABLE PERSON probably lives longer as well!
Here’s another notable fact, particularly given the impending
Presidential election less than a month away…
The Gallup organization conducted a personality factor poll prior
for every presidential election since 1960. Only one of three factors –
issues, party affiliation, and likeability, has been a consistent predictor
of the final election result. Can you guess which one?
So,
How LIKEABLE are YOU?
Can it make a measurable difference in your life
on nearly all if not every front?
Start thinking about everyone in your life or who
you’ve met… what made them LIKEABLE?
What makes YOU likeable?
- 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 stands behind your likeability and guarantees its authenticity
There are several well-researched, bona fide books about the attitudes and beliefs that allow the above (4) elements to prosper within you:
BE POSITIVE Positive means that you can find a better direction out of a problem, rather than wallowing in the problem
DON’T JUDGE Assume good will – assume everyone’s getting by the best way they know how, with the resources they have at that time
BE OPEN From the tone of your voice, to how you hold your body, how you treat others, being open to new people, other ideas, and different ways of doing things are highly likeable traits.
CONFIDENT & SECURE Comfortable in your own skin; not hiding behind humor and sarcasm or defensiveness, to hide the fact that you yourself don’t necessarily LIKE who YOU are! And yet…
LIGHTEN UP! Turn on the evening news if you want to instill a sober and somber mood… don’t you think the world is serious enough? There’s a lot of wisdom in “Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff” I use it with my young daughter often. If you’re always doing your best, and everyone’s bound to slip now and again, and you’re assuming those around you are doing the best they can with what they have at that time… LIGHTEN IT UP, crack a smile, give a COMPLIMENT… people like people who prioritize the good stuff… and leave the small stuff out of the conversation.
BE REAL People who admit they’re not bullet proof, they’re not perfect, they ‘screwed up’ or “they don’t know” are more widely accepted as likeable people.
BE ENGAGED, PASSIONATE You give passionate, you don’t take it. When you give it, it comes back to you tenfold. People like people who are engaged in life, who have that sparkle in their eyes when they talk about what they do. It’s easy to find passion. You can have passion about your kids, your hobbies, your convictions. The more engaged you are, the more interesting you are, the more we want to be around you. Period.
EMPATHY Focus on the other person, walk in their shoes, see the world from their perspective and practice understanding. Recognizing and working with other people’s feelings within a situation or conversation is highly likeable.
FAMILIARITY We’re more attracted to and like people who are more familiar to us. So with that in mind, if you’re in SALES for example, your objective is to increase the numbers of (relevant and sincere) exposure to your prospects.
GRATITUDE THANK people for their time, their attention, their efforts, their love. Being grateful is simply more LIKEABLE.
DEFERENCE Trust me, you are not perfect. There is always someone better, who has more skills than you. Defer to others. Sometimes other people have better ideas than you. Imagine if you alone had to carry the weight of the world solely on your shoulders… NO THANKS! Surround yourself with great people, they’ll not only ADMIRE you for it, your team, friends, family with LIKE YOU BETTER!
You learned how to ride a bike…
Use Excel and Powerpoint…
You’re using your new iPhone right now.
How important is it for you to learn to be more LIKEABLE?
To implement a System of Likeability for your Company,
contact Angela @ blue i marketing.com today!
