First, a caveat. One of the big downfalls for many leaders is becoming too consumed with wanting people to like you. That’s definitely a danger. But some technical experts go too far the other way and count on their superior skills alone to do all the heavy lifting in the growth of their career. They decide they’ll “let their results speak for themselves.” In the extreme, some become “toxic geniuses” or “brilliant jerks.”
Others become enigmas. They do their work extremely well, and they keep a low profile, never boisterous or obnoxious. If this is you, you may feel like your career is stalling, but you’re not sure why.
People like working with people they know, like, and trust. And, generally speaking, the people who are known, liked, and trusted are the ones who get the career opportunities. Whether someone is boisterous and obnoxious or merely silent and invisible, a lack of friendliness can stall their ability to succeed.
But like I said earlier, trying to figure out how to make people like you isn’t the solution. Being likeable is one of those paradoxical goals that falls apart when you try to chase it directly. Instead, you’ll become likeable when you actively seek to understand other people, rather than focusing on what they think about you.
Making this shift can be hard. If you’d like some help becoming more likeable in your workplace, let’s talk. Visit stevedwire.com/talk to start the conversation.
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