Here’s what the research says about how to win people over quickly, along with practical tips to put it into action.

Likability isn’t just about being friendly—it’s a strategic advantage. Research from Harvard Business School shows that people are more likely to hire, promote, and support colleagues they find likable—even when those colleagues aren’t the most qualified on paper. In fact, likability is so powerful that psychologists call it the “halo effect”: when we like someone, we subconsciously view them as smarter, more competent, and more trustworthy.

Some of you are bad leaders, and I’m here to call you out. You may not even realize you’re doing it—or maybe you do and just don’t care (in which case, congrats, you’re officially a jerk).

It all begins with an idea.