How to Respond When a Guy Says He Likes You Without Breaking Him

Learning how to respond when a guy says he likes you in the right way is key… if you want to develop close relationships and avoid upsetting anyone!

Humans like to have their egos stroked. When someone tells you that they like you and admire you, it’s a huge ego boost, for sure. The thing is, if a guy tells you they like you, you must understand how hard that might have been for them. With that in mind, know best how to respond when a guy says he likes you.

Think back to the last time you told someone you were crushing on that you liked them. It probably took you a while to pluck up the courage. Perhaps you needed a drink or two beforehand to give you the courage. So, that’s why learning how to respond when a guy says he likes you is so important. If you get this wrong, you could crush his confidence forever!

Whether you like him back or not isn’t the issue here, it’s about being a decent human and not stamping on his ego.

Sure, he might be a confident kind of guy, someone who is quite the player. Does that mean you have the right to laugh in his face when he’s admitted something so personal? You might think he doesn’t mean it but being careful how you respond is vital.

[Read: Here’s two powerful steps for how to make someone fall out of love with you]

How to respond when a guy says he likes you

Of course, it feels great when someone tells you that they like you, doesn’t it? For a second it’s like you’re walking on air. Everyone loves to be appreciated. Anyone who doesn’t agree, well, they’re probably lying!

But it’s easy to react in the moment. You might feel embarrassed, stuck to the spot, and unsure what to say. That’s why learning how to respond when a guy says he likes you is so important!

#1 Do not put him down or laugh in his face. When you hear something that takes you by surprise, especially something deeply flattering, it’s easy for your reaction to just come out without any control. You might laugh because you’re embarrassed, but try and rein this in. Can you imagine how mortified he might be? Learning how to respond when a guy says he likes you does not involve laughing or raised eyebrows!

Take a second to breathe and gain some control. He won’t notice a second, and you should do this to stop those out of control reactions from breaking his spirit! [Read:How to just be friends with a guy when he wants more]

#2 Understand that it might have been hard for him to admit. Let’s assume this is a decent kind of guy, the type who doesn’t go around telling everyone that he likes them. It might have taken a huge effort him for to admit this to you, and he might be secretly terrified that you’re going to respond in the wrong way.

So, whatever your final decision on what to do about this little revelation, first understand that perhaps admitting this to you might have been a pretty personal thing for him. [Read: Non-awkward ways to let a guy down kindly]

#3 Don’t respond straightaway. Ask yourself how you feel about this and give yourself the time to really examine it. It might have taken you by surprise, and even if it didn’t, be sure about what you’re going to do. You do not have to give him an answer right in that moment, so take the time to think if you need.

You can say something like “aww, that’s really nice. I think you’re great too.” As condescending as that sounds in this situation, when you’re in the moment with a guy who’s telling you that, your body language will take the condescending edge off it and help him to understand what you really mean. [Read: How to become a better person – the 9 golden rules you should follow to evolve]

#4 Be open to the possibility. Understanding how to respond when guy says he likes you means taking the time to think it through and being open to the possibility that maybe he could be someone you like too. Maybe you already like him! The biggest mistake many people make is assuming that he’s just not your type.

How do you know? You don’t know him as a person yet! There is nothing stopping you from being friends first and seeing how things go, if you’re not actually that sure. That way, you find out how you really feel, and you won’t regret it later.

#5 Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Be honest with the guy. He deserves that much. I know, I mentioned before about not responding straightaway, but it depends on the situation. If you’re already with someone, it’s important that you tell him now and don’t keep his hopes up for nothing. If you’re really not ready to start dating for whatever reason, tell him that, but do it in a gentle way. Don’t dampen his spirit.

Knowing how to respond when a guy says he likes you basically means being honest and a decent person in return. He’s plucked up the courage to tell you, so be just as respectful back. [Read: What to do when a guy friend acts weird *or weirder than normal*]

#6 Should you play it cool? There is this idea that playing hard to get is the way forward, but I’m not a fan of that. Put yourself in his place! Would you like it if games were played with you? Of course not! Don’t assume that it’s easier for him because he’s a guy. It’s not. He’s a person with feelings just like you.

[Read: Why playing hard to get with a guy is pointless]

Some relationship “experts” might tell you that you should be cool and keep him on his toes. While I agree that you shouldn’t go all hot straightaway and be clingy, but avoid being an ice queen and making him wonder why he told you in the first place. These types of games can easily backfire, and while they work for some, the success rate isn’t that high.

At the end of the day, understanding how to respond when a guy says he likes you is basically about recognizing how hard it might have been for him to tell you this and then acting like a decent human being in return, no matter how you feel about him. Sure, he might be a player who tells everyone he likes them but that doesn’t change how you should respond – be decent at all times because let’s face it, karma is a real bitch! [Read: How to reject a guy and turn him down in the nicest way possible]

A quiet or shy guy who has plucked up the courage to approach you and tell you that he likes you is going to have his confidence knocked for a while if you go about this the wrong way. So always put yourself in his position and recognize how you would feel in return. Being laughed at, a wry smile, or being played isn’t fun. [Read: Does he like you? The ways to tell if a shy guy really likes you]

Equally, it’s not fun to suddenly have everyone know that you’ve admitted to liking someone either. Don’t go around telling all your friends and having a good laugh about it! Just be decent and think about how you might feel in return. You never know, this could be the love of your life.

[Read: How to stop a guy from flirting with you even though you’ve turned him down]

Many people don’t know how to respond when a guy says he likes you, but at the end of the day just be a good person. Admitting feelings isn’t easy. So turn him down nicely or explore this possibility and see how things go.