One Little Book with a whole lot to teach
Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.~ Mason Cooley
Many of us have been familiar with having to stay where we are over the course of the last several months. I was talking to some people I was interviewing today and it occurred to me that I had hardly been out of my house since March 15. This was only the second in person interview I had done. I have written most of my stories through research online, phone calls and e-mails.
One thing I have done a lot of is reading.
I have read articles and posts and books and newspapers and magazines. I have read things for research. I have read things for pleasure. I have "read" Audible books, I have read Kindle books.
Basically, I have done a lot of reading!
A little book with a lot of power
One of the most favorite books I have read over the past few weeks is a very condensed version of How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
There is a a lot of power packed into this book that measures a mere 3 1/4 inches tall by 2 3/4 inches wide.
Don't let this photo of the book fool you. This photo was taken on one corner of my laptop by the keyboard. It's small!
Like I said, though, it has a wealth of wisdom within it's 134 tiny pages. There are an average of 50 words per page.
Nine Principles that can shape your leadership skills
I wanted to share the Nine Principles that make up the book.
At the very end of the book there are three pages that highlight the points of the Nine Principles that make up the remainder of the book.
Here they are:
Principle One:
Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
Principle Two:
Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
Principle Three:
Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
Principle Four:
Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
Principle Five:
Let the other person save face.
Principle Six:
Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.
Principle Seven:
Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
Principle Eight:
Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
Principle Nine:
Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.
The Central Theme
As you can see, the theme of the book is building the other person up, praising them and making them have ownership of projects and their decisions.
Being a leader is a tremendous responsibility and not everyone should become one or will become one.
If you are blogging and are becoming an authority in your particular niche, then you are a leader of sorts. Unless you are selling your own products, some of these principles may not apply to you.
But think about it—the title of the book is "How to Win Friends and Influence People." These principles are perfect for winning friends. They are perfect for influencing people!
In a Nutshell
So, no matter what you are blogging about, keeping these principles in mind sure won't hurt and you might just win some friends and influence some people!
With 2020 Vision,
Karin 😎
Recent Comments
90
That is definitely a great book. I have read the original print version about 20 years ago, when I was in an MLM. I read it again after my time in the MLM just as a refresher.
It has some timeless pointers for us all to be effective leaders.
Great blog too...
Bob
Thanks, Bob. I really enjoyed the book in its original form and also in the condensed form. LOL, when you said you read it when you were in a MLM, it was on the reading list for the one I was in! This one, The Secret and Think and Grow Rich. I read all three!
Good books.
With 2020 Vision,
Karin 😎
I took the course many many moons ago when I first started sales, a game changer. Also I took Toastmasters because I am basically an introvert. Both helped me immensely. When I got out of the service, I was happier working with computers than people. Very Good post and share.
Toastmasters is a great organization. I recommend it to anyone who has a fear of public speaking. It was a game changer for me.
Barbara
Thank you, I am glad you liked the post. I never did get a chance to join Toastmasters as the nearest group was quite a ways from me. Thanks for reading.
With 2020 Vision,
Karin 😎
Gosh, I remember this book from way way way ago, but it still resonates and still offers excellent, brilliant advice.
I love the 9 principles, especially the bit about allowing the other to save face... how often can we (do we) find that cornering someone with no way out will escalate a problem instead of diplomatically retreating....
Great post and thank you so much for the salutary reminder about being a “good egg”
👍🤗
It certainly contains timeless wisdom. I have been thinking more and more about this even in arguments with my spouse! Sometimes it is just a matter of "retreating" instead of trying to prove myself correct!
With 2020 Vision,
Karin 😎
Really great post and advice!
It's so true. We must learn to treat our readers as our friends. If they come to our blog and ask us for advice, we need to have some humility. They might not be our family or our best friends but anyone who crosses our blog has value and even if sometimes they leave us nasty comments. It is true that some people are not very pleasant to read because their comments may be unfair. But it is always better to answer them in the most positive way possible to make them understand that yes we understood that he/she does not like our article but it is not for this reason that we will not respect him/her. This is also how we will gain leadership.
Ingrid
See more comments
Hi Karin,
A good, broadly relevant post. The principles are especially good because they are transferrable to people in a general sense, regardless of background, age...etc. In my work as a school teacher for teens, I have had to stay aware of these principles that are ultimately based around respect, kindness, and positivity.
Stay well,
Laone
Yup.
Some books have mere techniques that are culturally bound and change with time.
Other books have timeless principles. This seems to be one of those.
Yes. These principles are words to live by. They just make sense. Especially when we think of putting the customer first. If we make them feel good about things, then we are far more likely to not only gain a sale, but also a loyal reader.
With 2020 Vision,
Karin 😎