How to Make Others Like You

Whether someone likes you or not is not entirely in your control, but you can influence their thoughts in a positive way. Make others like you, whether it's a new friend or someone you're fond of, by smiling and bringing joy whenever you're around them. Another effective way is to learn about their interests and encourage them to share more. However, always be yourself. If they can't like the real you, they don't deserve your effort!

Maintain personal hygiene. Before meeting someone, take basic steps like showering, combing your hair, brushing your teeth, flossing, using deodorant, and wearing clean clothes. You should also chew gum and spray some perfume. When you look neat and smell fresh, you’ll feel great. As a result, you'll be more confident and more appealing in others' eyes.

Smile at the people you meet. A sincere smile reflects your care and happiness towards the other person; therefore, let them see your bright smile. Smiling when meeting others also makes you appear more attractive and friendly.

Show confident gestures and use relaxed body language. Your posture can radiate confidence and make you more attractive. Sit upright, puff out your chest, and hold your head high. Also, keep your hands and feet relaxed, make eye contact, and turn towards the person you're meeting. You can create a stronger stance by placing your hands on your hips or behind your head to form an inverted triangle. Whatever stance you choose, remember to remain relaxed rather than forcing it. Stiff body language makes you look unnatural and gives the impression that you're faking it. You can practice showing open, confident body language when you're by yourself.

Remember the name of the person you meet and a few details related to them. Remembering and using someone's name makes them feel special; therefore, make this a habit in your conversations. You should also show your appreciation for them (gradually, this will make them like you) by mentioning small things you know about them. For example, you could say, 'Hi An! How did your math test go?' if you had previously talked about schoolwork. Avoid secretly following their online information to learn about their interests. If you talk about something they’ve never mentioned, the conversation will feel unnatural, and they may think you are overstepping.

Respect other people's boundaries and personal space. You can make others like you by avoiding making them feel awkward or uncomfortable. Maintain appropriate distance by standing an arm's length away while talking. Additionally, don’t pry into their personal matters or bring up sensitive topics. Once you are sure that the person feels comfortable with you, you can move closer while talking. Gradually, they will be more comfortable sharing personal details with you when they know you better. This respect for boundaries also applies to social media. Don’t flood their social media pages with your posts or push an online relationship beyond what exists in reality. They will feel that your actions have crossed a line and are inappropriate.

Encourage others to talk about their interests and passions. If you know a few shared interests, start the conversation from there. Otherwise, you can still ask open-ended questions to discover what they enjoy.

• For instance, you could ask, “What brought you to this conference?” or “What music genre do you prefer?”
• Open-ended questions help you gather more information to keep the conversation flowing.

Show thoughtfulness. Do something for others without waiting for them to ask. However, make sure it’s an appropriate action. It’s best to choose tasks that friends or acquaintances would typically do for each other, while still being suitable for your relationship with the person.

• For example, if they can’t attend a certain class, you could ask if they’d like to borrow your notes. If they’re sick, you could bring them some comforting food.

Become a good listener. Listen attentively to others because we all enjoy talking about ourselves. You should look into their eyes and listen without interrupting.

• When they stop speaking, you should paraphrase what they’ve said to make sure you understand their message. This shows that you are genuinely listening and gives them a chance to clarify any misunderstandings, ensuring you fully comprehend their point.
• Listen with your whole body. Look into their eyes, slightly lean in, and nod to show agreement or understanding.
• Remember, if you spend the entire conversation talking about yourself, you won’t learn anything about the other person, and they’ll feel like you don’t care about them. Let them speak more.

Compliment the person. Compliments make the listener feel special and build rapport with you. Compliment their appearance, skills, or viewpoints during the conversation. However, don’t focus solely on one aspect like their looks.

• You could say, “Your shirt is lovely! I’m also a big fan of Harry Potter” or “Oh, that’s a brilliant idea!”

Make the other person laugh. Share a witty comment or tell a joke, as people generally enjoy the company of someone who is fun. Laughing together strengthens the bond between you two. As a result, the person will view you more favorably.

• Occasionally, you can dance with joy, tease someone playfully, or share funny memes with them. The way you make others laugh will certainly make them like you even more!

Ask for help or advice from others. We are often drawn to those who are open to receiving guidance and eager to learn. Additionally, when someone offers you advice or assistance, they tend to feel more connected to you because we usually help those we care about.

• You might say: “I remember you mentioned that you’re good with computers. My laptop is frozen. Could you help me check it?”

Offer help to others. Helping others will make them like you just as much as when you ask for help. Small gestures of assistance can build a deeper bond.

• If you know someone always forgets to bring a pencil to class, offer them one. If they need someone to take care of their pets over the weekend, you can offer to help.

Prioritize spending time with them. We generally want to spend time with those who also want to spend time with us, so show the other person that you enjoy their company. When you part ways, express how much you enjoyed being with them and look forward to seeing them again.

• This also means being punctual. If you’ve planned to meet with someone on Thursday, don’t leave them waiting while you go off with someone else.

Don't be afraid to reveal quirky traits. You might think you should appear mature in front of others, but the truth is they also have their own peculiar habits, and they’ll feel more comfortable if you don’t hide yours. Sing out of tune if you feel like it, admit that you still watch your favorite childhood cartoons, or share that you have a habit of dipping your bread in milk.

• By revealing a few of your silly, unique quirks, you’ll grow closer to them. Additionally, the bond between you two will be stronger when you’re not afraid to share little things you’ve never shared with anyone else.

Communicate sincerely yet tactfully. Most people appreciate those who speak plainly and truthfully. Lying or concealing the truth can make you seem unreliable, so honesty is essential. However, it's still important to learn how to handle situations with tact.

• For instance, if someone asks whether you like a movie they enjoy, you can respond, 'The movie isn't in my favorite genre, but I really appreciate the main character's personality. He’s hilarious, and I understand why you like him!' instead of saying, 'No, I hated that movie!'.

Stand firm in your values and beliefs. The way you uphold your principles and beliefs sets you apart. These core aspects of your personality define who you are, and it's crucial to remain true to yourself, even if it causes others to turn away.

• You need the courage to stand by your convictions. It’s not easy to stand up against bullying or refuse to participate in harmful jokes. Living authentically may alienate some people, but it will also attract those who share your values.

Respect yourself. Showing respect for yourself means loving yourself no matter what. When communicating with others, avoid comparing yourself to them or putting yourself down.

• Remind yourself of your strengths by listing them. You might say, 'I’m a great listener' or 'I can make others laugh.'
• Respecting yourself also means not doing anything that goes against your personal beliefs and values.
• Self-respect is a key element in earning respect from others. If you don't treat yourself well, others will struggle to show you true respect.