Simple Advice to Becoming Popular

Now I know I don’t typically give relationship advice per say on this website but it is February so I thought I would do anything I could to help. Recently I was speaking with a friend who shared with me his three secrets to relationship success and popularity. Now these are tips specifically designed for winning over the opposite sex, but really these pointers apply very well to all relationships. And though his tips are very simple, they work, and can help us all in building successful relationships and in being more popular. So here they are…

# 1 Ask Questions and Listen

The first tip to becoming popular is to ask questions and then really listen. People like to talk about themselves and share their opinions, feelings, stories, and lives. Many people are not successful at building relationships, because they fail to ask questions and listen. Instead they choose to only talk about themselves or worse they ask questions and then don’t really pay any attention to the response. Doing this leads to unpopularity; so don’t make this mistake! Instead, ask questions of others and then listen to their answers. Surprisingly, you can learn a lot about a person this way.

# 2 Don’t be a Know-It-All

Nobody really likes a know-it-all. If you always have a better story, or know a little bit more, or never agree with others opinions because you are always right, or you always have something to add--then you probably are not very popular. Instead of being a know-it-all, try to learn from others, consider their opinions, and swallow your tongue on occasion. Trust me, it will help.

# 3 Make Others Feel Good about Themselves

My friend mentioned that this is the most important and has the greatest impact on popularity and successful relationships. However, this one comes with a warning that most people can detect flattery and insincerity a mile away. So, you have to make people feel good about themselves by sincerely complimenting them—and by doing it often. Look for the good in others and let them know what you think. Avoid sarcasm and put downs especially when first getting to know someone. Overlook the negative and search for the positive. How you make people feel will be a direct correlation with how much they like you. If you are able to make others feel good about themselves then you will be popular indeed.

These three tips are guaranteed to make you more popular and today, since it is February, I have a bonus tip that my friend actually shared with me a few days later. Here it is.

# 4 Eye Contact

Making eye contact goes a long way in building relationships because it demonstrates trust, respect, and honesty. There once was a politician who continuously failed and one of the reasons was because while shaking hands rather than making eye contact with the person he was shaking hands with, he would often gaze toward the next person who he was going to greet. Until he learned to look people in the eye he was not successful. Often times when people are talking to us we are distracted. If we want to be popular and build strong relationships we need to give people our undivided attention when speaking with them. We should not be typing, or writing, or reading, or even watching television, or fiddling in some other way when conversing with others. There is true relationship building power in looking people in the eye.

So there you have it—four simple yet tried and true tips to helping us become more popular and build successful relationships. And truly applying them in our lives just might change it for the better. (And I’m sorry guys that I didn’t get this out before Valentine’s Day—but remember there is always next year…).