"Likeable" Much? Part 2

The On Hiring blog at the Chronicle of Higher Education is back with another post on the topic of likeability.  (My post on their prior "likeability" post is here.)  This time, the topic is, "What Does Likeable Look Like?"  The author offers the following two characteristics as a starting point:

1. Confidence balanced by humility

2. Making people feel valued/not making people feel stupid

I must admit -- that's a great start.  Closely related to these, I would add:

3. The ability to take joy in the success of others

Here's an example of what I mean.  At each of the law schools where I have taught, the dean has announced faculty accomplishments (e.g., publications, presentations, awards, etc.) at the beginning of each faculty meeting.  (I have adopted that practice as dean at University of Dayton.)  A faculty colleague once wrote me an e-mail message complaining about the practice that read something like this: "Only insecure people need to hear their accomplishments read out loud in front of everyone."  I replied that, to the contrary, "Only an insecure person cannot take joy in the success of others."

The blog author ends her post with:

Do these characteristics resonate with you? What else can we add to this list?

What do you think about her suggested characteristics and mine?

Comments

[juniorminted]

The author also mentions "sharing credit." I think that one is KING in law-firm life.

As for faculty life, can we just add levity to the list? Not necessarily cracking jokes, but cracking a smile, and giving the indication that smart people don't have to be serious at all times?