The other day I was browsing Audible and came across a book by the name of: How to Win Friends and Influence People. There were many books I had saved and favorited as I was searching for the book I would select as my next read, but this one in particular really stood out to me. This book had come up in conversation many times before, and I felt it was time for me to read it. I found this book to be amazing, because the life lessons and advice listed were relatable and interesting because Dale Carnegie created stories behind each message he conveyed to the audience.

I took away a few key lessons from each of the different aspects of this book and wanted to share them with you as I believe strongly that they are helpful:

Technique in Handling People: Give Honest and Sincere Appreciation. Whenever I go out to eat with friends and family I make it a point to acknowledge the server and I ask for their name. From this action alone, I can tell that the sever’s entire demeanor changes and they are truly vested in providing the best service. Although, this is not the reason why I do it – their change in demeanor does reveal to me the importance of simply acknowledging them.

How to Make People Like You: Become genuinely interested in other people. There were so many times when I would hear only silence from the other side when I tried making conversation. However, my persistence in trying to learn more about the other person was always a success. They always ended up engaging in the conversation and talking about themselves. These conversations were not small talk, and I always walked away from them learning something of significance. When you genuinely try to learn about someone, they see that.

Win People to Your Way of Thinking: Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.” When two people are arguing, it seems that they can never let go of their perspective on the situation. Failure to see the other side keeps two people on their side of the argument, and in conclusion is very similar to a hamster on a hamster wheel. Two people will keep going back and forth because they fail to learn from the argument. Always, always, always respect the other person and what they are saying. In addition, try to understand, interpret, and analyze the other persons opinion. Work with them, instead of pointing a finger at them!

Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct. We all make mistakes, and there are enough people out there to make us see that. No one makes a mistake on purpose, and instead of sitting there and reiterating the negative outcome as a result of the mistake it is best to take that opportunity to create a stronger action plan moving forward. Also, you never know how criticism can really impact someone’s confidence. Why not build their confidence, instead of breaking it down?

This book should be a mandatory read in schools, because it teaches the basic life lessons that may sometimes take one an entire lifetime to learn. Thank you for reading, sending a lot of positive vibes your way!

Love,

Manisha Sareen