Merge

Last week I've started my semi-annual listening of Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People." I don't listen to it for the direct benefits as the title implies, but I do listen to it because I've realized that dealing with people on a day to day basis is so crucial. From interviewing, to employee relationships, prospects to clients--a simple tweak in one's attitude can make or break an outcome, whatever that may be. Simple advice such as "smile more" or "never criticize" (still working on that one) are timeless, simple pieces advice to heed. I've also found that I need to be reminded of these simple truths as they can make such a huge difference in inter-personal relationships.

The book touches many different levels of relationships, and here are 9 ways from the book regarding leadership.

A leader's job often includes changing your people's attitudes and behavior. For instance:

1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
2. Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
5. Let the other person save face.
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be
   "hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise."
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

See the full summary of the book.

How to Win Friends and Influence People is a must read if you haven't done so. If you have read it, do it again. Order it today--and if you haven't discovered Audible.com (for your blackberry, iPhone, iPod, etc.), you can buy it once and listen to it over and over and over.

Bottom Line: Personal Relationships can be maximized with the right attitude--you may be surprised how such a small of a tweak in your attitude can positively affect others in a huge way.