Eighteen Simple Social Skills That Will Make You More Likable

A big part of succeeding in the corporate world is the ability to network, to make friends, and to make others feel comfortable around you. Developing solid social skills may seem like an odd investment, but it’s key to success! These simple social skills are small, but can make an ENORMOUS difference in your effect on clients and customers:

Excerpt:

At the end of the day, your likability often boils down to your emotional intelligence.

You might be naturally likable, or you might be a work in progress. If you’re in the latter group, here are the highlights of one particularly helpful Quora thread: “What are useful social skills that can be picked up quickly?”

Out of the 83 answers submitted by users, we selected 18 simple ways to instantly become more likable:

1. Make eye contact

“It is an idiotically simple thing, but it remains one of the most impactful life hacks around,” writes Quora user Brad Porter. “The most attractive quality in a person is confidence. But ‘be confident’ is not very good advice. Instead, find the best proxy for confidence, in terms of interactive behavior. And that’s eye contact.”

Start this habit immediately, says Porter. It requires no practice or special skill — just the commitment to meet someone’s gaze and look them in the eye while conversing.

2. Put your smartphone in your pocket

And keep it there until your conversation or meeting is over. Basil Chiasson puts it simply: “Pay attention. Look at them. Stop what you’re doing. No interruptions.”

This is another simple yet effective habit that can be executed immediately and does not require any effort or skill.

3. Call people by name

The next time someone greets you by name or uses your name mid-conversation, remember how great that feels.

If you have trouble putting names to faces, try different strategies, such as writing them down or using imagery or rhymes associated with the name. Quora user Howard Lee suggests repeating names verbally when you’re first introduced and then twice more in your head.

Read more: 18 simple social skills that will make you more likable | Insider | http://bit.ly/2mJ0HC3