Ever wondered how likeable you are? Most of us have. If we’re honest, we all want others to like us and, when they don’t, it can be unsettling to say the least. Likeability is a somewhat ethereal quality and you’d be surprised how many people don’t actually know how they would score on a likeability scale (yes, that is absolutely a thing). While you may feel that you don’t want to know, there are some very good reasons to find out and we’ll share some of these later in this article.
What Is Likeability?
This much used term is about so much more than being popular – in fact, lots of popular people are actively disliked and only gain – and keep – a following through manipulation and even intimidation. Being likeable is more than the sum of its parts (for example, being generous or being funny) it’s a quality that draws people to you and keeps them there. Some people do, of course, try to fake this desirable quality however this rarely works and, in fact, usually backfires as they come across as a bit of a fake.
If you’re thinking that likeability can’t be measured, you’re absolutely wrong – taking a free three minute likeable person test is a great way of gauging how charming you really are and pointing you in the right direction to make improvements.
So Why Will Taking A Likeability Test Make You Happier?
I know what you’re thinking – Happier? Really? Yep. There has actually benn a lot of research which shows that people who are well-liked tend to be happier and more contented and, in this section, we’ll take a look at some of the reasons why:
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Your health
Believe it or not, being likeable can actually be good for your health. Studies show that charming folk tend to have a lower risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. This is likely to be linked to the fact that they suffer less anxiety than people who don’t enjoy the same kind of esteem.
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Social groups
It probably goes without saying that likeable people are usually on the tippity top of the list when it comes to invitations and this can very much affect happiness. Us humans are wired to be social and although we may enjoy some alone time, we very much want to be around people. This can mean that those who are not included in social events can tend to feel anxious or isolated – which are very much not happy feelings.
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Career contentment
While you may not necessarily think of work as your happy place, this is a different story for likeable people. When you’re well thought of at work, trust usually follows – and trust leads to advancement in many cases. Needless to say, people who are able to advance in their careers acquire more money and more job satisfaction which is a very happy place to be. While this may seem unfair, it’s a fact that’s hard to disagree with.
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The perception of beauty
Did you know that being personable can actually make you more attractive? OK, bear with me here – have you ever watched a film where, at the beginning, the lead character doesn’t seem all that but, by the end, he or she seems pretty cute? That’s likeability. When people find somebody’s personality appealing, it actually changes their perception of that person’s attractiveness. This, of course, means that these people may be lucky in love which can add to their overall contentment.
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All the lonely people
In recent years, loneliness has been making headlines all across the world. Everybody feels a little lonely from time to time but if this becomes a permanent state of being, it can lead to isolation, social anxiety and depression. I’m absolutely not saying that much liked people can’t be lonely, however, this will tend to be less acute for them as they’ll usually have a pretty good network of friends that they can call on.
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The support network
Sadly, during our lifetimes, most of us will suffer some form of crisis. Whether it’s the death of a parent or going through a divorce, a crisis can take its toll on our physical and mental health. When a person has to go through this alone without the support of friends, the impact can be magnified. Likeable people will generally have a small but real group of friends that they can rely on to help them through the bad times and this really can make all the difference when it comes to coping with it – both at the time and in the future.
Turning that frown upside down
If you’ve taken our test and haven’t done as well as you hoped, don’t panic. The good news is that it is actually possible to become more likeable. As our test demonstrates, this tricky concept is built on a number of factors such as reliability, empathy and generosity with your time and, these are all things that you can work on to up your score and get happy. Identify the areas in which you’re lacking and start making small changes or, if you feel you need a bit of a boost, a course on a subject like building relationships can help to steer you in the right direction. In most cases, you won’t need to make any massive life changes – just a few little improvements that can have a big impact.
Testing the waters of likeability
Becoming more likeable starts with finding out how you score and this is a great way of identifying minor flaws that you may not even know that you have. You can then start making changes to your behaviour and / or attitude to alter the way that you’re perceived by others. Becoming more liked absolutely is not a magic wand – there are, of course, plenty of likeable people who are unhappy. It is, however, something which is proven to increase happiness through some of the factors laid out in this article. Why not get started today by taking our test – go on, we dare you !
