How to Win Friends and Influence People - a Personal Analysis Essay

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"The more you get out of this book, the more you'll get out of life." This is the claim that Dale Carnegie makes in reference to his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Carnegie proposes that there are four main ideas that one should use when dealing with people: 1) Know how to handle people, 2) Make people like you, 3) Win people to their way of thinking, and 4) Be a leader. These skills are essential not only in being a good manager, but also in dealing with people in day to day life. 1) Fundamental Techniques in Handling People The first thing one must know when handling people is "don't criticize, condemn, or complain." When you criticize someone, you put yourself at a level above them. Even if you get your point …show more content…
This leads to understanding and disseminates any conflict that might normally arise without said understanding. Always remember to "show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say ‘You're wrong.'" By disregarding what others think and putting them down, you're only stirring up negative feelings. It doesn't do any harm to hear people out, even when you feel that your idea is better than their, because sometimes they might just be right. "If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically." It is always a good idea to "begin in a friendly way." The only way to gain respect from people so that they will listen to your ideas is to start off on the right foot. When I have a problem with the way something is being handled, I don't just go and start complaining about right away. Rather, I'd calmly explain my problem so that the other party so that they are more inclined to want to cooperate with me. To start of, "get the other person saying ‘yes, yes' immediately." When I worked as a telemarketer for the University of Minnesota's Alumni Foundation, I had to try to talk people into donating money to the school. People won't donate unless they perceive some sort of benefit for themselves. So for example, I might ask them what their best memory of college was,