To a large measure, your likeability will lead to success or failure. It often trumps skill levels in surveys of HR people who are asked to name the most important characteristic of job candidates and employees. Other than ‘don’t be an asshole’ what can you do to increase your own likeability? Is it really possible to change? Or, do you believe your likeability has been set by some cosmic forces, and that if people don’t like you as you are, so what? BTW, being rich or good looking is not on the list.

Number 10. Humility is Endearing.

Genuine humility is very appealing to others. The issue is how do you attain it without being false or fake. All of us have known someone who fakes humility—”Oh no, I couldn’t have hit all those homeruns without my hitting coach and his advice”—as a way of generating even more compliments for their achievements or actions. This fake humility is transparent and communicates more insecurity than humility.

How can you make yourself more humble? Here a few ideas: Stop comparing yourself to others, old classmates and/or co-workers. Who cares what they are doing, instead– how are you doing on your own path? Next, acknowledge your own faults. Trust me, you are not perfect. There is always someone better, who has more skills than you. Next, defer to others. Sometimes other people have better ideas than you. Review your past, ask yourself how you got to where you think are. Was it as a result of your own natural born charisma? Or perhaps— just luck?

“After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser.” Benjamin Franklin

[tags]how to be likeable, humility, fake humility, how to become more humble, self esteem issues, Ben Franklin quotes[/tags]