Do they like me?

Did that comment sound sarcastic? Did I talk about myself too much? Was that an overshare? If you’re always haunted by thoughts like these after meeting someone new, and constantly worry whether they liked you or not, you’ll be happy to learn that we often underestimate our likeability, according to researchers*. This is called the ‘liking gap’, and it can linger for as long as a year after first being introduced to someone. It can also make teamwork difficult, and has more impact on people who are shy or have low self-esteem. Try to be less self-critical and make sure you reach out for help from others when you need it – you may not be reading the room correctly.