BOOKS| 12 Life Lessons From How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

How To Win Friends and Influence People was first published in 1936 but it is still so popular today, 2019. In the book, Dale Carnegie tells us the best way to relate with people using real-life experiences, situations and success stories and I believe there’s nothing better than that.

I read an article on LinkedIn about a month ago which was written by an HR professional. She talked about how the information in this book has helped her relate better with candidates during recruitments so I did a little bit of research and wondered why I hadn’t read it all this time. Managing people is an essential part of my job and even though I believe I do okay, I’m always open to learning.

I think everyone should have a copy of this book at home because we relate with people every day and it wouldn’t hurt to learn the most effective way to do so. I thought to share twelve lessons I learnt from the book with the hope to inspire you to grab your copy too. Find them below;

1. Smile. The effect of a smile is powerful even when it is unseen.

2. Be genuinely interested in other people.

3. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.

4. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

5. Make the other person feel important, and do it sincerely.

6. Give honest and sincere appreciation.

“When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.”

7. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.

8. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.

9. Begin with praise and honest appreciation before correction.

10. Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never use the words “You’re wrong”.

11. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.

12. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.

There are a ton of other lessons in the book but these twelve stood out to me. I will need to practice them every day so they can become a way of life.

Which ones are you noting down?

Mariam Shittu