The eleven habits of ridiculously likeable people

The eleven habits of ridiculously likeable peopleThe eleven habits of ridiculously likeable peopleToo many people succumb to the mistaken belief that being likeable comes from natural, unteachable traits that belong only to a lucky few - the good looking, the fiercely social, and the incredibly talented. Its easy to fall prey to this misconception.When I speak to smaller audiences, I often ask them to describe the most likeable people they have ever worked with. People inevitably ignore innate characteristics (intelligence, extraversion, attractiveness, and so on) and instead focus on qualities that are completely under peoples control, such as approachability, humility, and positivity.These qualities, and others like them, describe people who are skilled in emotional intelligence (EQ).TalentSmartresearch data from more than a million people shows that people who possess these skills arent just highly likeable, they outperform those who dont by a large margin. Ninety percent of top performers have high EQs, people with high EQs make $29,000 more annually than people with low EQs, and a single-point increase in your EQ adds $1,300 to your salary. I could go on and on.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBeing likeable is under your control, and its a matter of emotional intelligence. Unlike innate, fixed characteristics, such as your intelligence (IQ), EQ is a flexible skill that you can improve with effort.To help you improve your EQ, I did some digging to uncover the key behaviors that emotionally intelligent people engage in that make them so likeable.They are genuineBeing genuine and honest is essential to being likeable. No one likes a fake. People gravitate toward those who are genuine because they know they can trust them. It is difficult to like someone when you dont know who they really are and how they really feel.Likeable people know who they are. Th ey are confident enough to be comfortable in their own skin. By concentrating on what drives you and makes you happy as an individual, you become a much more interesting person than if you attempt to win people over by making choices that you think will make them like you.They ask thoughtful questionsThe biggest mistake people make when it comes to listening is theyre so focused on what theyre going to say next or how what the other person is saying is going to affect them that they fail to hear whats being said. The words come through loud and clear, but the meaning is lost. A simple way to avoid this is to ask a lot of questions. People like to know youre listening, and something as simple as a clarification question shows that not only are you listening, you also care about what theyre saying. Youll be surprised how much respect and appreciation you gain just by asking questions.They dont pass judgmentIf you want to be likeable you must be open-minded. Being open-minded makes you approachable and interesting to others. No one wants to have a conversation with someone who has already formed an opinion and is not willing to listen.Having an open mind is crucial in the workplace where approachability means access to new ideas and help. To eliminate preconceived notions and judgment, you need to binnensee the world through other peoples eyes. This doesnt require you believe what they believe or condone their behavior, it simply means you quit passing judgment long enough to truly understand what makes them tick. Only then can you let them be who they are.They dont seek attentionPeople are averse to those who are desperate for attention. You dont need to develop a big, extroverted personality to be likeable. Simply being friendly and considerate is all you need to win people over. When you speak in a friendly, confident, and concise manner, you will notice that people are much more attentive and persuadable than if you try to show them youre important. People ca tch on to your attitude quickly and are more attracted to the right attitude than what- or how many people- you know.When youre being given attention, such as when youre being recognized for an accomplishment, shift the focus to all the people who worked hard to help you get there. This may sound clich, but if its genuine, the fact that you pay attention to others and appreciate their help will show that youre appreciative and humble- two adjectives that are closely tied to likeability.They are consistentFew things make you more unlikeable than when youre all over the place. When people approach you, they like to know whom theyre dealing with and what sort of response they can expect. To be consistent you must be reliable, and you must ensure that even when your mood goes up and down it doesnt affect how you treat other people.They use positive body languageBecoming cognizant of your gestures, expressions, and tone of voice (and making certain theyre positive) will draw people to yo u like ants to a picnic. Using an enthusiastic tone, uncrossing your arms, maintaining eye contact, and leaning towards the person whos speaking are all forms of positive body language that high-EQ people use to draw others in. Positive body language can make all the difference in a conversation.Its true thathowyou say something can be more important thanwhatyou say.They leave a strong first impressionResearch shows most people decide whether or not they like you within the first seven seconds of meeting you. They then spend the rest of the conversation internally justifying their anfangsbuchstabe reaction. This may sound terrifying, but by knowing this you can take advantage of it to make huge gains in your likeability. First impressions are tied intimately to positive body language. Strong posture, a firm handshake, smiling, and opening your shoulders to the person you are talking to will help ensure that your first impression is a good one.They greet people by personennameYour na me is an essential part of your identity, and it feels terrific when people use it. Likeable people make certain they use others names every time they see them. You shouldnt use someones name only when you greet him. Research shows that people feel validated when the person theyre speaking with refers to them by name during a conversation.If youre great with faces but have trouble with names, have some fun with it and make remembering peoples names a brain exercise. When you meet someone, dont be afraid to ask her name a second time if you forget it right after you hear it. Youll need to keep her name handy if youre going to remember it the next time you see her.They smilePeople naturally (and unconsciously) mirror the body language of the person theyre talking to. If you want people to like you, smile at them during a conversation and they will unconsciously return the favor and feel good as a result.They know who to touch (and they touch them)When you touch someone during a conver sation, you release oxytocin in their brain, a neurotransmitter that makes their brain associate you with trust and a slew of other positive feelings. A simple touch on the shoulder, a hug, or a friendly handshake is all it takes to release oxytocin. Of course, you have to touch the right person in the right way to release oxytocin, as unwanted or inappropriate touching has the opposite effect. Just remember, relationships are built not just from words, but also from general feelings about each other. Touching someone appropriately is a great way to show you care.They balance passion and funPeople gravitate toward those who are passionate. That said, its easy for passionate people to come across as too serious or uninterested because they tend to get absorbed in their work. Likeable people balance their passion with the ability to have fun. At work they are serious, yet friendly. They still get things done because they are socially effective in short amounts of time and they capital ize on valuable social moments. They minimize small talk and gossip and instead focus on having meaningful interactions with their coworkers. They remember what you said to them yesterday or last week, which shows that youre just as important to them as their work.Bringing It All TogetherLikeable people are invaluable and unique. They network with ease, promote harmony in the workplace, bring out the best in everyone around them, and generally seem to have the most fun. Add these skills to your repertoire and watch your likeability soarTravis Bradberryis the co-author ofEmotional Intelligence 2.0,and the cofounder ofTalentSmart.This article first appeared at LinkedIn.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits o f mentally strong people

Advertising Agency Production Director Profile

Advertising Agency Production Director ProfileAdvertising Agency Production Director ProfileAt the end of the day, an advertising agency produces a product. That can come in many forms, be it in print, on television or the radio, online, mobile, outdoors, or anywhere else an ad could be placed. It is the production directors job (sometimes called media production director or print production director) to make aya the ads make it to those specific places. Working hand-in-hand with the creative, media, traffic (which is sometimes part of production), and accounts departments, the production director manages a team of skilled production specialists who are experts in getting all kinds of ads created and published. If its a piece of direct mail, it may require something to be specially fabricated. If its a billboard, it could require unique placement or a custom build. If its a television spot, the production director may have to oversee all aspects of the production, including casting, set builds, wardrobe, permits and more. In short, it is the production directors responsibility to enkoranvers the vision of the creative department, and the client is brought to life in the best possible way, whilst also making sure budgets and timelines are met. Salary Range As you would expect, the production director oversees a team of skilled individuals and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. To that end, production directors have a median income of $148,696, with the bottom end being $99,666, and the top end a very generous $176,293. When you add in bonus and benefits, the Salary.com median comes out to $232,571. It is one of the most highly compensated jobs in the agency but comes with a great deal of pressure, and you must be available day and night, 7 days a week, to make sure the needs of the agency and the client are met. Special Skills Production directors have to be great leaders and motivators of people. They also need to excel in problem-solving and be good at negotiating. Many production directors will be required to haggle with vendors to get the pricing that both the agency and the client will benefit from. They will also have to find creative solutions to some of the requests being made of them by both the creative and media departments. Education and Training Any job at this level with requires a high level of career experience, on top of the usual academic qualifications. As a production director, you should have a minimum of a bachelors degree in a related field, including business, marketing, art, design, or even engineering. It will be your practical experience at agencies that will be of most relevance to your future employer. Typical Day Dont expect to sit at your desk shuffling papers and browsing the Internet. The production director has a hectic job, and will often be seen running from department to department to get information, show samples, or check in with creative and media. Here is what a typical day ca n involve Meeting with creative teams to be briefed on potential projectsPulling together quotes for ad campaigns and individual tacticsMeeting with current vendors, and establishing a relationship with new vendorsMaking phone calls to vendors, clients, media buying firms, and moreSpeaking with clients about media strategiesOverseeing a team of production specialistsAttending press checks, shoots, and VO session Getting a Job At this level, agencies may well seek out a production director using a headhunter, or via word of mouth. Its a key role in the agency, and requires many years of experience, with the accompanying successes. You may be able to work your way up to the position, first as a junior in the production department, then a manager, and finally director. Fringe Benefits The biggest benefits are travel, and being courted by vendors who want the agencys business. Production directors are asked out to dinners and events constantly by printers, media buyers, and othe r suppliers, all wanting to be in on the agency roster. You cannot accept bribes or gifts, but you will often be given tickets to shows, sports events, and even ski passes once the vendor is on the books. These can, and should, be passed out among the staff of the agency. You will also get to travel on various shoots around the country, and even the world, and will also attend conferences. The salary is also a very nice benefit of the job.

This is how expressing gratitude can make you happier

This is how expressing gratitude can make you happier This is how expressing gratitude can make you happier Happy Thanksgiving, bosses! Today’s a day I like to focus on giving thanks. And  new research  from the Booth School of Business shows why this is one habit we should embrace more often.Researchers found that actually  expressing  our gratitude not only boosts our own well-being, but also makes a big impact on  those who you’re thankful for. But more often than not in everyday life, we might feel it, but we don’t always express it. Telling some one how much you appreciate them might seem cliché or weird and over the top. But this research found that we underestimate how much our thanks is appreciated.We overestimate the awkwardAccording to the  study,  â€œparticipants in three experiments wrote gratitude letters and then predicted how surprised, happy, and awkward recipients would feel. Recipients then reported how receiving an expression of gratitude actually made them feel. Expressers significantly underestimated how surprised recipients would be about why expressers were gr ateful, overestimated how awkward recipients would feel, and underestimated how positive recipients would feel.”Giving thanks is  less  awkward than we think it’s going to be.  So this thanksgiving, I want you to actually say the words. Tell the people you’re with why you appreciate them today. And pick up the phone or send the text to the people you’re not with but who are on your mind.Make your day â€" and theirs, too.Brad the Boo used to mention periodically someone from his past who’d made a big impact on him. It’s actually his ex-girlfriend’s father. He recommended to Brad that he read a book,  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,  which is this coming of age novel I now recommend especially for young men navigating career change or big life changes. He got this recommendation at a key time in his life when he benefitted greatly from it.Now, a more anxious side of me used to feel a pang of insecurity whenever I’d hear Brad talk about this guy in his life, as though thinking fondly about his ex-girlfriend’s dad was akin to him wanting to get back with her just for that relationship. Or I’d take it as some personal affront about my dad. But when I’d listen to Brad mention him from a place of security, confidence, and self-worth, I told him: you’ve got to tell this guy about the impact he had on you. You can’t go through life waxing poetic about people who made an impact on you without ever letting them know.So finally, he did. Years later. He emailed the guy this summer. And yes, he did mention that we were about to be married and inquired about his ex, which I thought was very sweet of him. He got a wonderfully warm response back and I know it made his day to hear from him. And it probably his ex’s dad’s day, too.Don’t keep your gratitude a secretIt’s so important we don’t go through life keeping what we’re most grateful for a secret. Whispering our joy doesn’t keep us any safer from losing it.So this Thanksgiv ing, I want to say from the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful for you. Really. This work is not easy. It’s been a long year. Making the leap into this independent production was terrifying. But you listeners were there to keep it real with me. And truly, to create with me. Your voicemails?! They make  this show  what it is: a conversation, not a proclamation. Your boss moves give me life, and your willingness to share this show with your friends is the ultimate compliment. But most of all, when I read the reviews that have been coming in lately on  iTunes,  I appreciate the fact that you seem to hear how much of my heart goes into this work. I think you get what a personal endeavor this has been â€" and really, when you care this much, and put your heart into your work, it feels vulnerable. So I appreciate all the ways in which you’ve responded to this show this year with your whole hearts, too.So thank you. Happy Thanksgiving. And keep bossin!This article was originally publis hed on BossedUp.