3 Easy Ways To Get Anyone Like You

culled from:inc.com

Sometimes in life we encounter people who we just can't get along with. No matter what we try, there's nothing that can bring a smile to their face. Unfortunately, in life and business these people are unavoidable. We will always deal with people that are in a bad mood, leaving us with two choices. The first is that we can get upset and frustrated as well, which lets their bad mood rub off on us. This not only will ruin our day, but also will make it even more difficult to work together.
The second choice is to make the person get along with us, by making them happy. Even if it's only for the short time that he or she is with you, making someone smile is a powerful tool that will serve you well in life and business.
To do this, I've learned that there are a few simple things we can do to get someone to get along with us. Use these strategies next time you come across someone who's upset, and watch how quick their attitude changes.
1. Make Fun of Yourself
Too many people take themselves too seriously. When people are afraid of what others think about them, it rubs off on others. Pretty soon everyone is overly serious, and being too serious is an awful way to cheer someone up.
Instead, try lightening the mood by poking fun at yourself. This will get everyone to let their hair down, have a few laughs, and put a smile on. Embarrassing stories about something dumb that you did is a perfect example. While people argue that it's not good to poke fun at yourself because it ruins your reputation, in reality that couldn't be farther from the truth.
It shows confidence, and makes you seem humbled. Have you ever been at an extremely professional dinner and noticed that everyone is talking to the one person. Usually, he or she is not the most interesting person in the world. But the reason he or she is able to garner such attention is because they can use their slip ups to make others laugh along with them.
2. Find Something to Agree On
Whenever I talk to someone, I always try to get us to agree on something. This is an especially helpful technique when the other person is super upset. For instance, say someone is angry because of the traffic they encountered on the way to your meeting. The smart thing to do is agree with them.
This may not fix how angry they are with the situation, but it will get you on their good side. Even when we seem like complete opposites, there is usually something we can agree on with the person we're speaking with. Find that similarity, and getting them to like you will be easy.
3. Always Give Before You Take
A common mistake people make is asking before giving. The simple gesture of offering help first and not expecting something in return is not as common as you might think. One of the characteristics that are found among successful people is that they look to help out those they associate with. It doesn't matter whether it's offering an introduction or giving a piece of advice. The most likable give to others as much as they are able, because they know being generous is the key to friendship.