How to Be a Likable Leader

Dianna: Although your primary goal may not be to gain approval,

Dianna: as a leader, you understand that likeability increases your ability to influence others.

Dianna: With that in mind, consider the tangibles involved.

Dianna: First, put others at ease. Your stock rises as the anxiety of those around you declines.

Dianna: When someone asks a question and mispronounces a word, never embarrass them by correcting them in front of others.

Dianna: When a client or colleague breaches some rule of etiquette, never call attention to their mistake by trying to correct them.

Dianna: No one likes to feel inadequate, ill-prepared, incapable, or uninformed.

Dianna: Whatever you can do to lessen someone’s discomfort or help them feel accepted, smart, capable,

Dianna: will increase their- their perception of your own leadership and wisdom.

Dianna: And then be authentic.

Dianna: Most people will not have an opportunity to follow you home and then see how you act away from the job.

Dianna: They’ll see only the on-stage demeanor.

Dianna: So primarily, they spot pretentious people, particularly pretentious presenters, three ways.

Dianna: An affected tone, overly formal, complex language, or choreographed movements or gestures.

Dianna: So be authentic, speak in a natural tone with simple words and leave choreography for the dance class.

Dianna: And then find something in common.

Dianna: We like people who are like us.

Dianna: Give people a chance to know you personally.

Dianna: That may mean revealing a favourite vacation spot or your favourite sports team, or talking about a life lesson learned.

Dianna: Or just simply mentioning the struggle that you’ve had -with- with organizing your email and your inbox.

Dianna: People identify with your humanity and your struggles more than with your successes.

Vocabulary:

primary – most important, main, or chief, “Our primary goal today is to finish the science project before dinner.”

approval – a feeling or statement that something or someone is good, correct, or acceptable, “The little boy looked at his mother for approval after tying his shoes.”

likeability – the quality of being pleasant, friendly, and easy for other people to like, “Her kindness and warm smile give her a lot of likeability.”

influence – the power to change, affect, or guide how someone thinks, feels, or acts, “A good coach has a big influence on how hard the team practices.”

tangibles – real, physical, or specific things that you can clearly see, touch, or measure, “Good pay, a laptop, and health insurance are the tangibles of a great job offer.”

put others at ease – (idiom) to make people feel comfortable, relaxed, and safe rather than nervous, “The teacher told a funny story to put the nervous students at ease.”

stock rises – (idiom) your reputation, popularity, or value improves, making people respect you more, “Your stock rises at work when you finish difficult projects on time.”

declines – goes down, drops, or becomes smaller in amount or intensity, “The number of birds in the garden declines during the cold winter months.”

breaches – breaks or violates a rule, law, custom, or agreement, “Leaving the secure front door open breaches the apartment building’s safety rules.”

etiquette – the formal, polite rules for correct behavior in society, at work, or within a specific group, “Chewing with your mouth closed is a basic rule of dinner etiquette.”

inadequate – not good enough, or not feeling skilled or strong enough for a specific task, “He felt inadequate because he could not understand the difficult math homework.”

incapable – not able to do something successfully, “The young puppy was completely incapable of climbing up the tall stairs by itself.”

uninformed – not knowing enough facts, news, or useful information about a topic, “It is very easy to make a bad choice if you are uninformed about the rules.”

perception – the specific way you notice, think about, or understand something or someone, “The beautiful documentary changed my perception of how wild animals live.”

authentic – real, honest, and true to oneself; not fake, copied, or acting like someone else, “She is a very authentic person who always says exactly what she thinks.”

demeanor – a person’s outward behavior, expression, appearance, or manner, “The hospital doctor had a very calm and friendly demeanor.”

pretentious – trying to appear more important, smart, or rich than you actually are just to impress others, “He used big, pretentious words during the meeting just to make himself look intelligent.”

affected tone – an artificial, unnatural, or fake voice used to sound more important or fancy, “She spoke in an affected tone that sounded like an old movie star.”

choreographed – planned, arranged, or practiced carefully beforehand rather than happening naturally, “The surprise party was perfectly choreographed by his friends.”

gestures – movements of the hands, arms, or head used to express an idea, feeling, or instruction, “The guide made wide hand gestures while explaining how big the castle was.”

identify with – to feel that you understand, share, or connect closely with the feelings and experiences of someone else, “Many teenagers identify with the main character in that movie.”

humanity – the quality of being human, which includes having natural flaws, soft feelings, and kindness, “Showing your humanity at work means admitting honestly when you make a mistake.”