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Self Care
While the break room at the office offers time to mix with team members on a personal level, nothing beats a walk after work to reconnect with nature and reset our balance. Caring for our own well-being makes us more likable — at work and everywhere else.
Before checking Venture Up’s list for likability, managers can start closer to home — right in the break room. Try elevating the space with these 11 Cool Gifts That All Coffee Lovers Need. Make it fun: spread the gifts out month by month and never reveal who sent them.
The break room is the heart of casual connection — the place where ideas flow freely, barriers fade, and people mix on a human level without the pressure of a conference room setting. Just like our best insights show up in the shower or on a nature walk, creativity often brews over a shared cup of coffee. Sure, a little shop talk slips in, but there’s something about sipping lattes or tea that connects people at a primal level.
7 Things Genuinely Likable People Do
1. They shift the spotlight to others.
No one receives enough praise. So start by telling people what they did well. If you don’t know what they did well, find out. It’s your job to know. Not only will people appreciate your praise, they’ll appreciate the fact that you care enough to pay attention.
2. They listen more than they talk.
Ask questions. Maintain eye contact. Smile. Frown. Nod. Respond — mostly nonverbally. Listening shows you care far more than advice ever will.
3. They don’t practice selective hearing.
Some people tune out anyone they think is beneath them. Likable people don’t. They listen closely to everyone — intern to executive — because they know we all have something in common: we’re human.
4. They’re thoughtful simply because they want to be.
Once, a car tech in Flagstaff cleaned a customer’s filthy rims while waiting for the next job. No charge, no reason — just because he could. Likable people use their time to do something kind, not because they’re expected to, but because they want to.
5. They put their stuff away.
Don’t scroll your phone. Don’t glance at your monitor. Don’t divide your attention. Give the gift of your full focus — it’s one of the rarest, most powerful gifts you can give.
6. They give before they get — and sometimes they never receive.
Likable people lead with generosity. They give time, energy, or encouragement without expecting anything back. Giving is how they connect.
7. They don’t act self-important.
No one likes a pretentious know-it-all. Likable people laugh at themselves and make others comfortable doing the same. Confidence is quiet; insecurity performs.
Venture Up (est. 1983) is the original team building company helping organizations build trust and collaboration through real-world experiences.
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