🏁 Axios Finish Line: The "liking gap"

Plus: Morsel of life advice | Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Open in app View in browser     Axios Finish Line By Mike Allen, Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·Jan 11, 2023 Jan 11, 2023 Welcome back! Smart Brevity™ count: 354 words ... 1½ mins.     1 big thing: We underestimate how well-liked we are Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   We tend to walk away from conversations underestimating how good of an impression we left on the other person. Why it matters: Our perception of how well-liked we are by our co-workers nestles into our brains — affecting everything from how good we feel about ourselves to how well we perform at our jobs. Driving the news: In a new study published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, researchers paired up conversation partners, then asked them how they felt they came off in that first interaction. What they discovered was a "liking gap." People routinely underrated the first impressions they made. They also found the gap is widest after an initial conversation — but starts to shrink as people know each other longer. That's because our first thoughts about how well we're liked may be based entirely on conjecture. But these thoughts might start to change as we see hard evidence from others as to how much they like us — think compliments, favors or gifts. The big picture: Our thoughts about who likes us and how much influence our behavior, Erica Boothby, one of the researchers, told CNBC. If we're confident in how we're perceived, we might be likelier to initiate plans with a new group of friends or raise our hands for a new opportunity at work. Share this story.     A message from Axios Your new morning habit     In just 10 minutes, catch up on the important news and interesting stories you won't hear anywhere else with host Niala Boodhoo. Each weekday morning, get the latest in everything from politics to space to race and justice. Listen now for free.     🧠 Life advice from years ahead Hundreds of readers have flooded the inbox with precious wisdom for their younger selves ahead of my 28th birthday in March. Keep it coming, with your name and hometown, to finishline@axios.com! Here's a sneak peek, from Finish Liner Libby H.: "This hits home because I was 28 when I moved from D.C. to Chicago and changed my career trajectory completely. More than 40 years later it's still the best decision I ever made." "So my advice would be: If you are dissatisfied with the way your life is going, change it. Move … explore a new career … and be flexible. It's not too late to make changes. And remember, if the changes don't work out, nothing is irrevocable."   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: