- Charismatic people have certain traits and behaviors in common that make them likable.
- Above all, they focus on other people instead of themselves.
- For example, they ask lots of questions in conversation, show empathy, and nod attentively.
Everyone worries from time to time.
Maybe you walked into a roomful of coworkers whispering and assumed they were gossiping about you. Or maybe your friends forgot to include you on the email chain for an upcoming getaway.
Our advice? Relax. You're probably plenty well-liked.
But if you're really worried about it, we've put together a list of research-and-expert-backed signs that you're likable — perhaps even more so than you realize.
You'll notice that many of the items on this list have to do with paying more attention to other people and less attention to yourself. Somewhat ironically, once you stop worrying about being likable, you'll have a better chance at winning other people over.
SEE ALSO: 8 signs you're likable at the office, even if it doesn't feel like it
You make a great first impression
First impressions are notoriously hard to shake — so if you make a solid one, you're basically set up to be likable for life.
In one 2016 study published in the journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science, researchers found that participants' evaluations of people in photographs ended up influencing their perceptions of those people even after they'd met them in real life.
That said, if you do make a poor first impression, there are ways to reverse it. For example, if someone views you negatively, you can help them see your behavior in a new context.
Say you ignore an acquaintance on the street because you just had a massive fight with your partner and aren't in the mood to talk. Later you find out that the acquaintance thinks you're a jerk. You might want to get in touch with her and explain that you normally love talking to her, but you'd just finished sobbing and didn't want to embarrass yourself or her.
You show positive emotions
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood! (Isn't it?)
According to a research paper from the Ohio State University and the University of Hawaii, people can unconsciously feel the emotions of those around them.
The authors of the paper say that's possibly because we naturally mimic others' movements and facial expressions, which in turn makes us feel something similar to what they're feeling.
It follows then that if you're generally upbeat and enthusiastic, other people will feel the same when you're around.
You're not always perfect
Ever tripped on the carpet on your way out of an important meeting? Go you!
Science suggests that revealing you aren't perfect can make you seem more relatable and vulnerable toward the people around you.
Researcher Elliot Aronson at the University of Texas, Austin first discovered this phenomenon when he studied how simple mistakes can affect perceived attraction. He asked male students from the University of Minnesota to listen to tape recordings of people taking a quiz.
When people did well on the quiz but spilled coffee at the end of the interview, the students rated them higher on likability than when they did well on the quiz and didn't spill coffee or didn't do well on the quiz and spilled coffee.
In other words, you have to reveal that you're competent before making a mistake — otherwise you'll just seem silly.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider