Likeability is not a black and white issue. I don't think it's possible to dislike everything about someone any more than it's possible to like everything about someone. All relationships live on a likeability continuum and they change every day.

It's also important to note that likeability can not exist in a vacuum. You are neither likable or unlikable by yourself. Likeability...

Bob Sommers

Everything about the title of this article sounds wrong doesn't it? If anything, we should feel neutral about the people we hurt, but behavioral psychologists have proven time and time again that we actually dislike the people we hurt ... but why?

Psychologists theorize about a concept know as cognitive dissonance. It's the uncomfortable feeling we get when we hold two...

Bob Sommers

I had an opportunity to talk about Likability on Business Radio WCFO in Atlanta today. Along with being a lot of fun, it was educational too.

The host, Austin McGonigle commented that the primary reason businesses offer their best customers incentive trips is to take advantage of this law of likability (We Like People Who We Associate With Good Feelings)...

Bob Sommers

Behavioral scientists tell us that you are more likely to like the people you help, than you are to like the people who help you. It's counter intuitive to everything you've ever learned about likability, but it's true. Let me explain.

If we go back to the overriding principle of likable, this concept will make a lot more sense. "We like people who make us feel good about...

Bob Sommers

Everyone has their own little idiosyncrasies, like counting steps or washing their hands or trying to memorize pi to the 10,000th decimal point. At least I think they do, don't they? And, even though I've never admitted this before, I too have my own idiosyncrasies.

From the time I was a little boy I would subconsciously ask myself this question when I was with someone....

Bob Sommers