10 Ways to Lose Friends and Irritate People
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1. You thoughtlessly waste other peoples' time. Every time you're late to an appointment or meeting says your time is more important. Every time you wait until the grocery clerk finishes ringing you up to search for your debit card says you couldn't care less if others have to wait unnecessarily. Every time you take three minutes to fill your oversize water bottle while a line stacks up behind you says you're in your own little world--and your world is the only world that matters.
Small, irritating things, but basically no big deal? Wrong. People who don't notice the small ways they inconvenience others tend to be oblivious when they do it in a major way.
How you treat people when it doesn't really matter--especially when you're a leader--says everything about you. Act like the people around you have more urgent needs than yours and you will never go wrong--and you will definitely be liked.
2. You ignore people outside your "level." There's an older guy at the gym that easily weighs 350 pounds and understandably struggles on the aerobic and weight equipment. Hats off; he's in there trying.
Yet nobody talks to him. Or even seems to notice him. It's like he's invisible. Why? He doesn't fit in.
We all do it. When we visit a company, we talk to the people we're supposed to talk to. When we attend a civic event, we talk to the people we're supposed to talk to. We breeze right by the technicians and talk to the guy who booked us to speak, even though the techs are the ones who make us look and sound good onstage.
Here's an easy rule of thumb: Nod whenever you make eye contact. Or smile. Or (gasp!) even say hi. Just act like people exist.
We'll automatically like you for it--and remember you as someone who engages even when there's nothing in it for you.
3. You ask for too much. A guy you don't know asks you for a favor; a big, time-consuming favor. You politely decline. He asks again. You decline again. Then he whips out the Need Card. "But it's really important to me. You have to. I really need [it]."
Maybe you do, in fact, really need [it]. But your needs are your problem. The world doesn't owe you anything. You aren't entitled to advice or mentoring or success. The only thing you're entitled to is what you earn.
People tend to help people who first help themselves. People tend to help people who first help them. And people definitely befriend people who look out for other people first, because we all want more of those people in our lives.
4. You ignore people in genuine need. At the same time, some people aren't in a position to help themselves. They need a hand: a few dollars, some decent food, a warm coat.
Though I don't necessarily believe in karma, I do believe good things always come back to you, in the form of feeling good about yourself.
And that's reason enough to help people who find themselves on the downside of advantage.
5. You ask a question so you can talk. A guy at lunch asks, "Hey, do you think social-media marketing is effective?"
"Well," you answer, "I think under the right circumstances..."
"Wrong," he interrupts. "I've never seen an ROI. I've never seen a bump in direct sales. Plus 'awareness' is not a measurable or even an important goal..." and he drones on while you desperately try to escape.
Don't shoehorn in your opinions under false pretenses. Only ask a question if you genuinely want to know the answer. And when you do speak again, ask a follow-up question that helps you better understand the other person's point of view.
People like people who are genuinely interested in them--not in themselves.
6. You pull a "Do you know who I am?" OK, so maybe they don't take it to the Reese Witherspoon level, but many people whip out some form of the "I'm Too Important for This" card.
Maybe the line is too long. Or the service isn't sufficiently "personal." Or they aren't shown their "deserved" level of respect.
Say you really are somebody. People always like you better when you don't act like you know you're somebody--or that you think it entitles you to different treatment.
7. You don't dial it back. An unusual personality is a lot of fun--until it isn't. Yet when the going gets tough or a situation gets stressful, some people just can't stop "expressing their individuality."
Look. We know you're funny. We know you're quirky. We know you march to the beat of your own drum. Still, there's a time to play and a time to be serious, a time to be irreverent and a time to conform, a time to challenge and a time to back off.
Knowing when the situation requires you to stop justifying your words or actions with an unspoken "Hey, that's just me being me" can often be the difference between being likeable and being an ass.
8. You mistake self-deprecation for permission. You know how it's OK when you make fun of certain things about yourself, but not for other people to make fun of you for those same things? Like receding hairlines. Weight. A struggling business or career. Your spouse and kids.
It's OK when you poke a little gentle fun at yourself, but the last thing you want to hear are bald or money or "Do you want fries with that?" jokes. (Bottom line: I can say I'm fat. Youcan't.)
Sometimes self-deprecation is genuine, but it's often a mask for insecurity. Never assume people who make fun of themselves give you permission to poke the same fun at them.
Only tease when you know it will be taken in the right spirit. Otherwise, if you feel the need to be funny, make fun of yourself.
9. You humblebrag. Humblebragging is a form of bragging that tries to cover the brag with a veneer of humility so you can brag without appearing to brag. (Key word is "appearing," because it's still easy to tell humblebraggers are quite tickled with themselves.)
For example, here's a tweeted humblebrag from actor Stephen Fry: "Oh dear. Don't know what to do at the airport. Huge crowd, but I'll miss my plane if I stop and do photos... oh dear don't want to disappoint."
Your employees don't want to hear how stressed you are about your upcoming TED Talk. They don't want to hear how hard it is to maintain two homes. Before you brag--humbly or not, business or personal--think about your audience. A gal who is a size 14 doesn't want to hear you complain that normally you're a size 2, but you're a size 4 in Prada because its sizes run small.
Or better yet, don't brag. Just be proud of what you've accomplished. Let others brag for you.
If you've done cool things, don't worry--they will.
10. You push your opinions. You know things. Cool things. Great things.
Awesome. But only share them in the right settings. If you're a mentor, share away. If you're a coach or a leader, share away. If you're the guy who just started a paleo diet, don't tell us all what to order.
Unless we ask. What's right for you may not be right for others; shoot, it might not even turn out to be right for you.
Like most things in life, offering helpful advice is all about picking your spots--just like winning friends and influencing people.
Now it's your turn. What would you add to the list?
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Something useful to read after a very long time.
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Allowing the Pain in our Lives to Help us Heal : http://www.relationshipgold.com/brokenheart/pain.htm
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Very interesting post. I must get help!
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I agree this is interesting.
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Originally posted by oerg:
I agree this is interesting.
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However, I think you have been quite comprehensive, TS
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Interesting. I agree
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Interesting post !
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I believe 'Constantly making use of people' deserves a spot up there.
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A very interesthing one at that. Its really help ful and all of it seems true. :)
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3 musketeers in spore many years ago in serangoon garden technical school there was a chinese technical teacher call animal, why because he anyhow shout at students during technical class and even hit students' head anyhow when student cant do technical work. thats why we call him animal not greet him as teacher but he looks like animal leh. another sgt teacher is call royston, an indian physical education teacher also taught history in lower secondary. he sure a kar nar sai, why because he anytime in school like to ask male students knock it down like he have not come out from army yet, teach pe anyhow humtam let us play games and he go sio hun i think, wonder how nie teach this kind of useless teacher. got once even saw him throw student's history test paper on floor if they didnt do well and told to pick up from floor, its a disgraceful act showing his shallowness as a teacher and poor character yet moe hired him walao eh. heard years later kena complain and confronted by parents in school for usch behavior and kena posted out and then lost news already. last one is a female chinese royal sporting house store manager lilian too from ngee ann city royal sporting house, alwsy trying to be friendly yet back stab people and try to control staffs by playing one against the other, even made students staff kena police case and one kena jailed but as a human being with compassion, students ought to be given second chance mah but she never but stepped on them. 3 musketeers dont really know there is such a thing call retribution when they grow older and older maybe will realize.
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sadly a lot of my Singaporean acquaintances behave like described in this thread :(
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instead of judging frens, how abt reflecting urself?
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Hello where is the topic about Singaporeans are VERY VERY RUDE? I want to reply because I agree!
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I agree
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Originally posted by FireIce:
1. You thoughtlessly waste other peoples' time. Every time you're late to an appointment or meeting says your time is more important. Every time you wait until the grocery clerk finishes ringing you up to search for your debit card says you couldn't care less if others have to wait unnecessarily. Every time you take three minutes to fill your oversize water bottle while a line stacks up behind you says you're in your own little world--and your world is the only world that matters.
Small, irritating things, but basically no big deal? Wrong. People who don't notice the small ways they inconvenience others tend to be oblivious when they do it in a major way.
How you treat people when it doesn't really matter--especially when you're a leader--says everything about you. Act like the people around you have more urgent needs than yours and you will never go wrong--and you will definitely be liked.
2. You ignore people outside your "level." There's an older guy at the gym that easily weighs 350 pounds and understandably struggles on the aerobic and weight equipment. Hats off; he's in there trying.
Yet nobody talks to him. Or even seems to notice him. It's like he's invisible. Why? He doesn't fit in.
We all do it. When we visit a company, we talk to the people we're supposed to talk to. When we attend a civic event, we talk to the people we're supposed to talk to. We breeze right by the technicians and talk to the guy who booked us to speak, even though the techs are the ones who make us look and sound good onstage.
Here's an easy rule of thumb: Nod whenever you make eye contact. Or smile. Or (gasp!) even say hi. Just act like people exist.
We'll automatically like you for it--and remember you as someone who engages even when there's nothing in it for you.
3. You ask for too much. A guy you don't know asks you for a favor; a big, time-consuming favor. You politely decline. He asks again. You decline again. Then he whips out the Need Card. "But it's really important to me. You have to. I really need [it]."
Maybe you do, in fact, really need [it]. But your needs are your problem. The world doesn't owe you anything. You aren't entitled to advice or mentoring or success. The only thing you're entitled to is what you earn.
People tend to help people who first help themselves. People tend to help people who first help them. And people definitely befriend people who look out for other people first, because we all want more of those people in our lives.
4. You ignore people in genuine need. At the same time, some people aren't in a position to help themselves. They need a hand: a few dollars, some decent food, a warm coat.
Though I don't necessarily believe in karma, I do believe good things always come back to you, in the form of feeling good about yourself.
And that's reason enough to help people who find themselves on the downside of advantage.
5. You ask a question so you can talk. A guy at lunch asks, "Hey, do you think social-media marketing is effective?"
"Well," you answer, "I think under the right circumstances..."
"Wrong," he interrupts. "I've never seen an ROI. I've never seen a bump in direct sales. Plus 'awareness' is not a measurable or even an important goal..." and he drones on while you desperately try to escape.
Don't shoehorn in your opinions under false pretenses. Only ask a question if you genuinely want to know the answer. And when you do speak again, ask a follow-up question that helps you better understand the other person's point of view.
People like people who are genuinely interested in them--not in themselves.
6. You pull a "Do you know who I am?" OK, so maybe they don't take it to the Reese Witherspoon level, but many people whip out some form of the "I'm Too Important for This" card.
Maybe the line is too long. Or the service isn't sufficiently "personal." Or they aren't shown their "deserved" level of respect.
Say you really are somebody. People always like you better when you don't act like you know you're somebody--or that you think it entitles you to different treatment.
7. You don't dial it back. An unusual personality is a lot of fun--until it isn't. Yet when the going gets tough or a situation gets stressful, some people just can't stop "expressing their individuality."
Look. We know you're funny. We know you're quirky. We know you march to the beat of your own drum. Still, there's a time to play and a time to be serious, a time to be irreverent and a time to conform, a time to challenge and a time to back off.
Knowing when the situation requires you to stop justifying your words or actions with an unspoken "Hey, that's just me being me" can often be the difference between being likeable and being an ass.
8. You mistake self-deprecation for permission. You know how it's OK when you make fun of certain things about yourself, but not for other people to make fun of you for those same things? Like receding hairlines. Weight. A struggling business or career. Your spouse and kids.
It's OK when you poke a little gentle fun at yourself, but the last thing you want to hear are bald or money or "Do you want fries with that?" jokes. (Bottom line: I can say I'm fat. Youcan't.)
Sometimes self-deprecation is genuine, but it's often a mask for insecurity. Never assume people who make fun of themselves give you permission to poke the same fun at them.
Only tease when you know it will be taken in the right spirit. Otherwise, if you feel the need to be funny, make fun of yourself.
9. You humblebrag. Humblebragging is a form of bragging that tries to cover the brag with a veneer of humility so you can brag without appearing to brag. (Key word is "appearing," because it's still easy to tell humblebraggers are quite tickled with themselves.)
For example, here's a tweeted humblebrag from actor Stephen Fry: "Oh dear. Don't know what to do at the airport. Huge crowd, but I'll miss my plane if I stop and do photos... oh dear don't want to disappoint."
Your employees don't want to hear how stressed you are about your upcoming TED Talk. They don't want to hear how hard it is to maintain two homes. Before you brag--humbly or not, business or personal--think about your audience. A gal who is a size 14 doesn't want to hear you complain that normally you're a size 2, but you're a size 4 in Prada because its sizes run small.
Or better yet, don't brag. Just be proud of what you've accomplished. Let others brag for you.
If you've done cool things, don't worry--they will.
10. You push your opinions. You know things. Cool things. Great things.
Awesome. But only share them in the right settings. If you're a mentor, share away. If you're a coach or a leader, share away. If you're the guy who just started a paleo diet, don't tell us all what to order.
Unless we ask. What's right for you may not be right for others; shoot, it might not even turn out to be right for you.
Like most things in life, offering helpful advice is all about picking your spots--just like winning friends and influencing people.
Now it's your turn. What would you add to the list?
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Thanks mate
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what a meaningful post. Thumb Ups
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just be yourself and hope people will accept the way you are:)
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interesting
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make people tulan so difficult meh ?
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Interesting topics. a great guide, not to annoy friends. Thanks
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I agree, thanks
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Agreed