Likability, Competence And Likability

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A respectable speakers’ goal is to appear both competent and likable. They aim to effectively communicate their message in such a way that the receiving party understands and agrees with their point. Whether speaking to a crowd of 1,000 people or a best friend, this underlying goal remains. Both competence and likability are factors in whether people trust or reject the speaker. If someone appears inept, they will not be viewed as a reliable source for the subject at hand. On the flip side, if someone appears unapproachable, cold, or unfriendly, they will have a harder time convincing people to stand by them, as people tend to trust those who are likable. While not every speaker desires to be perceived as such, most do. Although both competence and likability are fundamental to a speakers’ success, competence is more so in professional situations, whereas likability is more so in social situations.
In order to be a friend, one has to be friendly. While not all speakers seek to make friends, this holds true in other circumstances. People tend to pay more attention to people who they like. Likability then, plays a part in all communication. If an individual dislikes someone, they won’t give much thought to what the individual has to say, instead dismissing them with a wave. Another word, which is often used in the …show more content…

This is a way of protecting face, their self-image. After all, no one wants to appear inept or insensitive. It is completely natural to aspire to appear both competent and likable, and entirely possible to achieve it. Likeability and competence are both vital to establish a bond between a speaker and a listener. Whether speaking to a crowd of 1,000 or to a best friend, a speaker needs to appear as trustworthy if they want to be taken seriously and not secretly scorned for lack of either likability or

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