18 Mistakes That Make People Think Less of You

Written By Lisa Marley

When it comes to social situations, there are several things that you can either say or do that are guaranteed to make those around you judge you, but just which ones are the right ones? Here are 18 mistakes that will make people think less of you without you even realizing it!

Being Habitually Late

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Being constantly late affects not only a person’s schedule but also the schedules of others and shows a complete lack of respect for other people’s time. It can make people think of you as unreliable.

Constant Complaining

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It’s normal to complain every once in a while, but if you constantly find errors in everything, it can tire those around you with the negative vibe, according to Romper. This can make them hesitate when thinking about hanging out with you.

Lack of Accountability

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Owning up to mistakes shows that you are mature and have a good level of integrity, which can leave a lasting impression on those around you. However, the opposite can be said for those who don’t own up to their mistakes.

Overpromising

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Setting unrealistic expectations of a person or a thing, only to fall short, can really damage your reputation and credibility, as it makes you out to be an untrustworthy person. Try to keep opinions realistic to avoid becoming a person which few people trust.

Negativity

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Constantly being negative or dwelling on the negative aspects of every situation can drain the energy of those who surround you and lower the morale of the whole gathering. You don’t have to be positive all the time but try not to be too negative to avoid giving people the wrong impression of you.

Poor Listening Skills

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Have you ever been having a conversation with someone and realized once you finish speaking that they’ve not listened to a word you have said? Annoying, isn’t it? It’s certainly something that the other person realizes and judges you for! This has even been backed up by Reader’s Digest.

Inconsistent Behavior

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When it comes to people in your life, there are ones that you know you can trust to call in a moment of need or to go to an event. An annoying trait that people can have is being inconsistent, leaving people never knowing where they stand with them.

Exaggerating or Lying

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Creating up things or scenarios and telling them to others as if they were the truth can build a reputation for you as a liar or someone who exaggerates the truth. It’s always best to be as truthful as you can in all of your interactions, or you can risk ending up alone.

Interrupting Others

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Medium says that one of the most annoying mistakes people can make is always interrupting the other person who is speaking. Not only is this super rude, but it also interrupts the flow of the conversation and can result in a tense atmosphere.

Talking Too Much About Yourself

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A healthy conversation means balancing talking and listening, never leaning towards one more than the other. Taking charge of conversations and making them all about you can leave people feeling disengaged and less likely to socialize with you in the future.

Ignoring Boundaries

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Respecting the boundaries of those around you is key to making and maintaining healthy relationships with those around you. If you don’t respect these boundaries, you can leave the other person feeling uncomfortable and upset.

Being Judgmental

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Whilst it’s okay to express your opinion on things occasionally, it’s best to try to keep it balanced: not always positive, but not always negative. If you constantly judge those around you, you will end up creating tension and negativity in every interaction.

Constantly Checking Your Phone

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It’s understandable to have to check your phone once or twice during a conversation with someone else, but if you are constantly on your phone when with others, it becomes a problem. HuffPost states that it screams to the other person in the conversation that what they are saying doesn’t interest you.

Refusing to Apologize

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Everybody makes mistakes in their lifetime, and how we handle them speaks volumes about who we are as people. A trait that can lead people to judge you is not being able to apologize when you are wrong, leading to never-ending conflicts that could have been easily avoided with a simple “sorry.”

Gossiping

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This may seem a harmless thing, but it can speak volumes about who you are. By being a constant gossip, people may start to question how trustworthy you are, as they are left wondering if you gossip behind their backs, too.

Lack of Empathy

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Being compassionate and empathetic can go a long way in social situations. Failing to show emotions and not being empathetic to those around you can make you seem cold and detached, and people will come to you less in moments of need.

Talking Over Others

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By allowing others their time to speak, you are showing that you respect them and their options. Doing the opposite is seen as very rude and a social no-no. Talking over people can cause people to build an idea of you being arrogant and rude.

Ignoring Feedback

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Another trait that can cause people to judge you is your inability to take feedback and act upon it. This is true for your professional life and your personal life. By outright rejecting constructive criticism, you prevent personal growth and show those around you that their help and opinions don’t matter to you.

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