Why Likability Matters More at Work and How Videoconferencing is Making it More Important

Likability Is More Important--and Harder to Pull Off--on Video

Story and images by Sue Shellenbarger / The Wall Street Journal

Is the workplace becoming more like high school?

\"Likability\" is becoming a bigger factor for success at work as social networks and videoconferencing grow. The impact goes beyond a high-school popularity contest. The ability to come across as likable is shaping how people are sized up and treated by bosses and co-workers.

Likable people are more apt to be hired, get help at work, get useful information from others and have mistakes forgiven. A study of 133 managers last year by researchers at the University of Massachusetts found that if an auditor is likable and gives a well-organized argument, managers tend to comply with his suggestions, even if they disagree and the auditor lacks supporting evidence.

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