I’d say that most people think they’re likeable. But is that based in reality? And more importantly, do you think that you are likeable and other people love to see you and spend time in your company?

To find out, we’ll look at some personality traits that likeable people have. Let’s see if you recognize yourself in them. 

1) Sense of humor

I decided to put the sense of humor in the first place as many people, including me, find it to be an extremely appealing trait. 

Humor is, hands down, one of the best traits you can have. Some even call it a life skill. It’s a very efficient icebreaker and can make you instantly likeable in the eyes of others, even strangers.  

If you can laugh at yourself and find joy in everyday situations – even better. This often creates a positive and enjoyable atmosphere.

You don’t necessarily have to be the life of the party, but if you can make people around you laugh even a little bit, you’ll be likeable to others. 

Although not always, a good sense of humor often goes hand-in-hand with this next trait. 

2) Positive attitude

Likeable people often have a very positive mindset and outlook on life. They aren’t bogged down by negativity and focus on the good in situations and in people. 

Higher levels of optimism were associated in a study with longer lifespans and living beyond age 90 in women.  

But it often also feels like optimism is contagious as positive people believe in possibilities and encourage others to adopt a similar mindset.

3) Supportiveness 

They do that by offering encouragement and motivation and helping others succeed without feeling threatened by their achievements. In fact, likeable people love to celebrate other peoples’ successes.

They genuinely feel happy for others when they achieve their goals or exceed expectations. 

Instead of feeling envious or competitive, they celebrate and acknowledge the accomplishments of others with enthusiasm and support. This contributes to a culture of positivity, collaboration, and mutual support.

By inspiring others and motivating and supporting them in everyday life, you easily create a sense of camaraderie and encouragement within your social and professional circles. 

4) Authenticity

That’s even easier to do when you don’t have to pretend in front of others and genuinely care about them. 

Yes, being authentic has many merits in today’s world, where superficial people are all around us. 

Be true to yourself, and align your actions and behaviors with your core values and beliefs. Don’t try to impress or please others by putting on a facade. 

5) Confidence without arrogance

Authenticity can often bring about confidence. Being confident is another likeable trait that can, unfortunately, spill into arrogance in some people. 

Likeablepeople maintain confidence in themselves and their abilities, but they don’t come across as arrogant or even condescending. They’re comfortable in their own skin and inspire confidence in others.

It’s a delicate balance that requires self-awareness, humility, and consideration for others. You need to be self-aware, grounded, and humble by acknowledging that there’s always more to learn and more room for growth.

Give credit where credit is due, and don’t dismiss the ideas or achievements of others. 

It also helps if you have this next trait.

6) Approachability

Likeable people are, perhaps above everything else, very approachable. It could be due to their smile, body language, or non-intimidating demeanor, but they make others feel comfortable and at ease when interacting with them.

They establish deeper relationships and build those that are based on trust, openness, and genuine care for others. 

If you aren’t a people person, you might have issues with this as, at least to me, it feels like introverts have quite the opposite body language at times. 

However, if you’re self-aware, you can work on being more approachable and welcoming. 

7) Good listening skills 

It’s always good to start by showing genuine interest in others, asking open-ended questions, and actively engaging in conversations. This way, you’ll make others feel heard and valued.

Likeable people know to avoid interrupting or dominating conversations and give others the room to express themselves.

8) Open-mindedness and respect

Most likeable people I’ve met are open-minded and receptive to new ideas and perspectives. They respect other people’s opinions even when they’re diametrically different than their own. 

Being polite, considerate, and showing respect towards others goes a long way. People love to see other well-mannered people that foster positive relationships and respect diverse perspectives and opinions.

Because you’re reading this website, you probably don’t have issues being open-minded and respectful. Nevertheless, it’s always good to reflect on your own beliefs, values, and assumptions.

9) Generosity

With respect and open-mindedness usually comes generosity. Likeable people often love to share their time, money, knowledge, and resources with others.

It can be as small as being emotionally supportive and available to others, or it may include putting in countless hours volunteering for charitable organizations and participating in community service projects.

Whatever it is, generous people actively seek opportunities to make a positive impact in the lives of others without looking to get something in return.

10) Humility 

And lastly, likeable people tend to be humble and grounded. They admit no one has all the answers and that there’s always room for growth and improvement. 

Humble people seek feedback, advice, and new knowledge while valuing the insights and experiences of others.

Are some likeable people showoffs? There might be some, but from my experience, they’re almost always down-to-earth.  

As I already mentioned, they love to celebrate other people’s successes and let others recognize what they themselves are doing. If no one affirms it, then so be it. They know what they did and for what reasons. 

Final thoughts

How many of these traits do you think you have? Are you authentic and supportive? Do you have a great sense of humor? Do people approach you easily or tend to stay away?

The road to likeability is often a simple one. Sometimes you just have to be more interested in and interesting to other people.

Listen to their stories, tell your own, laugh out loud, and be adventurous. This will usually make you the most interesting person in the room.