Common Sense Ideas for Becoming the Career Star You Are Meant to Be

Today is Friday, so this post is on interpersonal competence.

Recently, I read Tim Sanders’ new book The Likeability Factor.  This book really captures the essence of interpersonal competence.  In the book, Mr. Sanders’ discusses what he calls “the L (for likeability) Factor”.  He says:

• “If you raise your L Factor, you will harness one of life’s most powerful forces.  You will see it everywhere you go, and you will wonder why you never thought about it before.  You will discover that nothing feels better, and is better for everyone around you, than achieving the highest L factor possible.”

I don’t think it is too much to equate likeability with interpersonal competence.  Other people like and respond positively to interpersonally competent people.

Mr. Sanders spends the first part of the book explaining likeability.  In the second part of the book, he uses a series of great examples to describe the four elements of likeability.

• Friendliness – your ability to communicate liking and openness to others.
• Relevance – your capacity to connect with others’ interest, wants and needs.
• Empathy – you’re ability to recognize, acknowledge and experience other peoples’ feelings.
• Realness – the integrity that stands behind your likeability and guarantees its authenticity.

Mr. Sanders lays out three common sense ways to raise your L Factor in each of these elements.  Briefly, they are:

Friendliness

• Don’t put up with unfriendliness.
• Develop a friendly mind set.
• Communicate friendliness.

Relevance

• Identify the people with who you interact with regularly (your “frequent contact circle”).
• Connect with others’ interests.
• Connect with others’ needs and wants.

Empathy

• Show an interest in how others feel.
• Experience others’ feelings.
• Respond to others’ feelings.

Realness

• Be true to yourself.
• Be true to others.
• Share your realness.

You’ll want to read the book to see what Mr. Sanders has to say about each of these four – and to read the great real life examples he provides of them in action. 

In short, The Likeability Factor is great.  It’s a quick read that can help you become a truly interpersonally competent person.  And, interpersonal competence is a key part of becoming the star you are meant to be.

This will be my last post for this year.  I will post again on Monday, January 1, 2007.  Best wishes for this holiday season.  I hope that 2007 brings you peace, health, happiness and prosperity – and you become the career star you are meant to be.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.  Check out my other blog: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a small business.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.