Listen
There’s a time to speak and a time to listen. People who are good listeners and are more attentive when somebody else is speaking are regarded as respectful and mature. They are then more respected and liked by others. Make it a point not to cut people off mid-sentence. When talking to another person, if you’re ‘dying’ to say something and can hardly wait for that person to finish talking, chances are, you aren’t listening. If you’re attentive, the other person can feel it. Listen with your whole body, really allow the other to express their thoughts, and hold the space for them while they’re talking.
Smile
People are more forgiving when you smile. We have heard it so many times in the past: nothing is more disarming than a genuine warm smile. Smile with your eyes and not just to show off your pearly whites. A person who smiles is seen as an approachable person who has a positive demeanor and will be more popular than those who don’t. Smiling people are also more attractive to others regardless of how they look.
Make eye contact
Looking people in the eye means you’ve nothing to hide; you want to connect and make yourself available to them. Popular people at work always make it a point to make eye contact with anyone they come across; it shows that they are open, honest, and professional.
Take compliments
Never brush off compliments, and say, “Oh, it was nothing.” Instead, learn to accept compliments graciously by saying “Thank you” or “I’m glad you liked it.” This shows that you’re a person who values a good effort, whether it’s by you or others. Don’t bother with self-deprecating statements just to humor others; this can just make you come across as insecure. People stay away from insecure colleagues because they can be a ‘drain.’
Accept criticism
Learn to take constructive criticism to be able to win people at work, because in the end, it’s for your own benefit. You can learn and improve yourself by owning mistakes and taking heed to much needed advice, especially if coming from a superior. In fact, thank them for taking the time to discuss it with you and talking to you personally, rather than gossiping about you with your peers behind your back. Nothing wins a boss over faster than a person who has a positive attitude toward anything, including criticism. See it as an opportunity for you to improve and grow. Thank the person, and show real appreciation for giving you constructive criticism; it shows maturity and professionalism on your part.
Project confidence
If you know how to exude confidence, chances are people will see you as a stable and reliable worker, somebody they can expect results from, and you’ll most likely be popular among colleagues, being confident will win people at work. Stand your ground, and even if you’re having self-doubt, don’t show it. Maintain professionalism at all times by being confident when dealing with other people. Stay calm and relaxed even under pressure; make a conscious effort to check yourself once in a while and see how you look to others.
There are many other great resources out there than can give valuable tips on how to win people at work. Dale Carnegie’s classic “How to win friends and influence people” remains popular up to this day. The most important thing is to be yourself and be confident with who you are. If you’re comfortable with yourself, people will accept you, whether they agree with you or not.