10 ways you’re unintentionally making people dislike you

02/05/2024

We all want to be liked, but sometimes our behaviour can unintentionally rub people the wrong way. Here are ten subtle ways you might be making people dislike you without even realising it.

1. Invading Personal Space

One of the quickest ways to make someone uncomfortable is by standing too close to them. As PsychCentral points out, respecting people’s personal space is an important part of respecting their boundaries.

Even if there are sparks flying between you, it’s best to take a step back and give them some room to breathe.

2. Intense Eye Contact

While eye contact is crucial for forming a connection, staring at someone’s face too intensely can make them feel cornered. It’s like your eyes are a Rottweiler who won’t let go of a bone!

To avoid making people uncomfortable, look away from their face every few seconds.

3. Forcing Small Talk

Small talk can be stressful in most social situations, especially if the other person isn’t interested in having a conversation.

If you find yourself trying to force small talk, it’s better to excuse yourself from the interaction to avoid making both of you feel anxious.

4. Excessive Compliments

Giving someone a meaningful compliment is a nice way to form a connection, but be mindful not to overdo the praise. As Fast Company warns, excessive compliments can make the person feel weird or self-conscious, and they might perceive you as insincere.

5. Apologising Constantly

Apologising for your mistakes is a sign of maturity, but doing it all the time can come across as nervous and unsure.

People receiving your constant apologies might not know how to respond, leading to awkward situations.

6. Indecisiveness

Not being able to make a decision can put people in an uncomfortable position. If your partner asks you where you want to go for dinner, and you say, “Dunno,” or your friend asks if you’d like to go skiing, and you say, “Maybe,” it’s a conversation dead-end that can leave people feeling awkward.

7. Speaking Too Loudly

It’s not always easy to be aware of your volume in public, but it’s essential. If you know you’ve been too loud in the past, try to keep your voice down to avoid making the people you’re with feel self-conscious because of strangers glaring at your table.

8. Sharing Private Conversations

While you might want to be friendly by including a mutual friend in a conversation, you could be making the person you were initially talking to feel uncomfortable, especially if the discussion was about their private life.

9. Unwanted Touching

Touching someone who hasn’t given you permission, even if it’s something innocent like touching their arm or elbow, can make people want to flinch away from you. Always respect people’s personal space and boundaries.

10. Oversharing Personal Information

If you don’t know someone well and you start trauma dumping on them, it can make them feel like they don’t know what to say. They might wonder why you’d want to offload on them when they don’t even know you or feel like they can help you.

By being mindful of these subtle behaviours, you can avoid unintentionally making people dislike you and navigate social situations with ease.