Will a Likeable Person Test Really Tell Me Anything Useful?

So, quick - think about the last time you slid onto Facebook. You might have posted something or perhaps wished somebody a happy birthday but, chances are, you hit “like” on something - but what does that actually mean? The word “like” can be pretty loaded, particularly when it comes to people and, in this article, we’re going to be looking at what it means to be likeable - and why it matters.

It’s Like That, and That’s the Way It Is (Huh!)

Chances are that you know somebody who everybody seems to like and who is never stuck for something to do on a Saturday night - but have you ever thought about why? Likeability is a sneaky and slightly ethereal quality. While it seems effortless for some, it stays annoyingly out of reach for others. The problem is that likeability isn’t connected to anything particularly tangible.

It’s not about being the one who always buys everyone a drink or being “the fun guy” at a party. It’s more subtle than that.  That’s why these days, lots of people choose to take a likeability test to see how they hold up when it comes to this elusive quality. If this seems a bit scary, don’t worry!  It’s not about telling you whether you’re a good or bad person but, rather, picking up on a few things that might need improvement.

Yes, there are factors that feed into being likeable and we’ll have a peek at some of these here.

• Generosity - Again, we’re not talking about flashing the cash but, more, being generous with your time. Likeable people tend to be folk who will always take your call or listen patiently if you need a bit of a vent.
• Amiability - A bit of a tricky one but when we talk about amiability, we’re really talking about someone who’s easy to get along with. The amiable person isn’t prickly and doesn’t feel the need to challenge everything you say but, will, instead, have the kind of positive attitude that rubs off on those around them.
• The trust factor - Have you got one of those friends who always bails on plans or promises a favour then doesn’t deliver? Being trustworthy is one of the top things that make somebody likeable. Why? As humans, we all need to have people we can rely on whether it's taking our bins out while we’re on holiday or having your back during an important life event.
• Kindness - You heard us earlier - this doesn’t mean buying expensive presents. We’re talking about the person who chooses to empathise and to use kind words no matter what the situation is. For example, rather than “you fell for that scam? What an idiot!” The kind person will say, “I’m really sorry that happened to you, what can I do to help?”

• Openness - This guy is always likeable because he is able and willing to listen to another person’s point of view. That’s not to say that he’ll always agree with it but what he absolutely won’t do is the whole “my way or the highway” thing.
• Listening - We all have conversations with other people all the time and although you might actually hear what somebody is saying, are you actually listening? Likeable people listen properly to what others are saying and give it thought while others (less likeable perhaps) are, essentially, just waiting for their turn to speak. Have you thought about Active Listening?  It makes a big difference!

What is a Likeability Test ?

First things first, as we’ve said, a likeability test isn’t going to tell you that you’re a bad person who doesn’t deserve any friends. Neither will it tell you that you’re so great you should be an influencer. This is an online test which is completely free to take (and is totally confidential) and just involves answering a series of simple questions in order to get a snapshot of the qualities which may (or may not) make you likeable. If you decide to take the test (go on, you know you want to), the idea is to try not to think too hard about each question as there are no right or wrong answers.

But How Will Taking a Likeability Test Help Me?

We knew you were going to ask that - because we’re the type of folk who think about others. Taking a likeability test will help you in a few ways, including:

Those little quirks - Sometimes we display traits that we’re not even aware of. For example; you might have a habit of interrupting somebody or responding negatively to what others are saying. A likeability test can help you to identify bits of your personality that you have been blissfully unaware of.

Little Miss Manners - Depending on where you grew up, manners can mean different things. Where, for one person, being blunt is considered to be absolutely fine, it can very much be a turn off for others.

Nelly negative - We’ve touched on this a couple of times - for good reason. We know that bad things sometimes happen to good people - and that nobody goes around with a permanent smile on their face (because, quite frankly, that would be weird). We do, however, tend to be turned off by people who are constantly whingeing as this tends to bring down everybody within their orbit. A likeability test will pick up on this even if you aren’t really even aware of it.

Conclusion

Taking a likeability test is great for shining a light on the parts of your personality that might be considered less than great. This isn’t designed to make you feel bad about yourself - quite the opposite. When we become more aware of how we come across to others, this arms us with the tools to make improvements, doesn’t it?  And that could be trying to have a more positive outlook or making more effort to be more “easy going” with those around us. Every day, we interact with other people and, each time, we’re making an impression on them … whether we’re aware of it or not!

So, will a likeability test tell you anything useful?  Well, it should give you the tools to ensure that the impression you’re leaving is a good one wherever possible. So why not give it a try?