This is the twenty-second post in a multi-part series where I share the highlights of the sections/subsections of the book How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
Previous: Throw down a challenge
Be a Leader: How to Change People without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment
Principle 1: Begin with praise and honest appreciation
Example: A cashier was not very productive at end-of-the-day balancing. The head teller wanted her fired because she was holding everyone up and doesn’t seem to get the repeated training. The manager noted that the cashier was good with customers and efficient in her normal duties. The manager praised her for these qualities first and suggested that they review the procedure used in balancing the cash drawer. Instilling confidence first made following suggestions more palatable.
Begin with praise like the dentist begins with Novocaine — the patient still gets a drilling, but the Novocaine is pain-killing.
Up Next
Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.
References
- Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/snre/