I just recently read How to Win Friends and Influence People again.
All the thoughts that I am sharing today come from this gem of a book.
- Don’t criticize, condemn, or complain. This statement and concept are so impactful that I have had it on my wall for years (Milly Miller does, too!). We don’t ever know what someone has going on or what they have on their plate. It’s easy to judge, but you never know if you’d be in the same spot as them under similar circumstances.
- Give honest, sincere appreciation. Remember that appreciation is sincere. Flattery is not. So, tell people how much you appreciate them and how much they mean to you, and do this often.
- Arouse in the person an eager want. Why focus on talking about what we want and are interested in? If we stop and think about it, the person we’re talking to may have no interest in those topics. Instead, focus on what the other person wants to talk about. Using the FORD method (family, occupation, recreation, dreams) or FAST method (family, activity, school, them) method are easy and effective ways to do this. Here is a link to a post I wrote in 2021 on how to use these approaches: https://pangogroup.com/how-to-start-conversations-with-strangers-a-few-thoughts-from-our-president-jeff-russell/
In the week ahead, try these out. See how they impact your personal and professional interactions. I am sure you will see a pretty big difference.
Next week, I will share some thoughts in the same vein – six ways to make people like you. So, stay tuned!
Life is good.
Jeff
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