10 Psychological Hacks to Make People Like You More

This blog post is for anyone who wants to make friends, get ahead in the workplace, or just make the world a more friendly and hospitable place. Here you will find some tricks that will help you not only interact with people on a more personal level but also attract their positive attention. Now go out there and show them your human side.

1. Smile

Although it sounds simple, smiling is a very powerful tool. A smile demonstrates friendliness and openness, and it allows others to feel comfortable in your presence. In combination with a warm greeting, a smile can put people at ease almost immediately even if you’re interacting with someone you do not know well. It’s worth mentioning that smiling doesn’t always have to be genuine in order to be effective; it just needs to be perceived as such.

2. Be slow to judge

Being judgmental can easily lead to being misunderstood by others, but there are also more severe consequences of making quick assessments of character. Studies have shown that when people believe you’re judging them unfairly, they will stop trying to communicate with you. So when it comes to socializing, it’s important for you to be open minded and not get stuck drawing conclusions about the way people are or what they are like.

3. Imagine yourself in their shoes

This might sound like a generic piece of advice but knowing how to empathize with others can make your social interactions so much smoother. For example, imagine how you would feel if someone was being really rude to you and what the person was experiencing that was leading him or her act that way. If you can relate to their motives, the situation will seem much less threatening, and the other person will warm up faster.

4. Avoid making assumptions

We’re all guilty of making some assumptions during social interactions often without even realizing it. For example, you might assume that someone is a jerk because he or she seems inconsiderate or rude. But on the flip side, you might also assume that someone is really nice because he or she seems friendly and considerate. So be mindful of these kinds of judgments and try to avoid them when possible.

5. Don’t criticize

Speaking of judging others, avoid criticizing others or offering them unsolicited advice. Criticizing will only make people feel uncomfortable and can lead to feelings of embarrassment, shame, and humiliation. All of these are unpleasant emotions that you don’t want your friends to have to deal with, so be sure to keep criticism in mind when it comes up in your interactions with other people.

6. Be aware of your body language

Body language can be one of the best tools for determining who is friend or foe. When interacting with other people, you want to make sure that you are giving off your honest and genuine personality instead of putting on a front and acting like you’ve got a stick up your butt. Be aware of your body language and make sure that it reflects the way that you would act in a conversation with another person who is more friendly or even more neutral.

7. Make eye contact

Obviously, you want to avoid being creepy or overly invasive when it comes to making eye contact but you should never underestimate the power of a good stare. Making eye contact with the other person shows your interest in the conversation and in that person. This can be an especially effective technique if you’re trying to win someone over or persuade them to agree with your side of an argument.

8. A smile is just a smile

Remember to always keep your facial expressions relevant and appropriate for the situation, because it’s easy for them to get misinterpreted. A smile is the perfect example of this. It’s really easy to misinterpret a smile, especially if you’re interacting with people you don’t know well. Some people will instinctively interpret it as a sign of secret evil intentions or an indication that they should be nervous or on guard. So use that smile wisely.

9. Laugh at yourself and make mistakes

The key to making friends and getting ahead in the workplace is not only being confident and social but also being approachable and genuine. Being sensitive to your surroundings often requires a bit of self deprecating humor. So if you’re in an awkward situation and need to lighten the mood, just think of someone who makes jokes about themselves. If nothing else, it’s a harmless way to make yourself feel better.

10. Find your tribe

It can be really helpful to identify with a particular social group or a set of people that you consider your tribe. This will help you make friends and get ahead in the workplace simply by being able to lean on the people you already know and trust for support and advice. And for many people, the social group you identify with is the family. If you’re lucky enough to have a tight knit group of supportive, friendly family members, it can be helpful to make an effort to spend more time with them if you are struggling with work or school.

Finally

Sometimes it’s pretty easy to surround yourself with people who can be more effective friends than your actual friends. For example, if you’ve always attended events with a bunch of people you already know and trust, it might be time for an alternative group to start connecting with. It definitely won’t hurt to make a few new friends when it comes to picking up the slack in your life just make sure that you keep building strong relationships with the ones who really matter to you.