I had the privilege over 15 years ago to go through Dale Carnegie training while working as the marketing and membership director at the local Chamber of Commerce in my hometown.  It was such an honor to be exposed to such amazing principles and tools at such an early age.

While cleaning out my bookshelf yesterday, I came across the my Dale Carnegie’s Golden Book.  This very tiny pocket-size pamphlet is filled with wisdom that I felt I would share with you today either as a reminder or for the first time.  So enjoy and start applying something today.

Become a friendlier Person

1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain
2. Give honest, sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.
4. Become genuinely interested in other people.
5. Smile
6. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sounds in any language.
7. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
8. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
9. Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.

Win People to Your Way of Thinking

1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
2. Show respect for the other person’s opinion.  Never say, “you’re wrong.”
3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
4. Begin in a friendly way.
5. Get the other person saying, “yes, yes immediately.
6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
9. Appeal to the nobler motives.
10. Dramatize your ideas,
11. Throw down a challenge.

Be a Leader

1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation
2. Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
5. Let the other person save face.
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.”
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

During the Chick-fil-a Leadershipcast one of the speakers said, “I grew up in America speaking English and today my kids are growing up in the world speaking social.”

Even though we are growing up in a very different world then when Dale Carnegie first developed these principles over 100 years ago they are still applicable to life whether face to face or online.  God Bless, Michelle

So which one(s) are you ready to apply?  Do you already use some of these principles? I want to hear from you. Share your comment by clicking above.

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