LCI Blog: How to Win Friends and Influence People: a PR pro’s perspective

By Hilary Burns, Assistant Account Executive at LCI

 
I read Dale Carnegie’s timeless book, How to Win Friends and Influence People more than a year ago. I was so impressed with its human-relations tips that I’ve been applying them to my life every day since. I keep many of Carnegie’s tips top-of-mind when interacting with my colleagues, friends, family and even strangers. I have found that understanding the motivations and thought processes of others can ultimately help you get what you want.
 
Here are some of my favorite Dale Carnegie tips:

1. Listen
   Being a good conversationalist is not about how well you speak, but rather how well you listen. If you encourage others to lead a conversation and participate as an active listener, your colleagues will feel appreciated and will regard you as a good conversationalist.
    “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” – Dale Carnegie
2. Make others feel important
   One of the easiest ways to make people like you is to make them feel important. The desire to feel important is at the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. A great way to do this is to provide colleagues with compliments, remember their significant life events and show interest in their personal lives.
   
3. Don’t complain, criticize or condemn
   A valuable principle in relationships is to avoid criticizing, complaining and condemning others. Blaming or criticizing a colleague doesn’t solve problems. But it could create resentment. A better approach is to be proactive and provide recommendations and guidance for the future.
   
4.  Appreciate others’ work
   People will go the extra mile to get appreciation. If a colleague has just secured a great placement, landed an interview with a high-profile reporter or completed a big deliverable, be sure to offer sincere appreciation. If your coworkers feel valued and appreciated, they will continue to work harder and will be happier in their job.
5. Smile
   The best way to make a good first impression is so simple that we sometimes forget it: smile. When you smile, people feel accepted and will recognize you as an approachable person. A simple smile can go a long way!
6. Remember names
   Since people place tremendous importance on their names, use first names often and try to remember the name of each new person you meet. A tip I have for remembering names is to greet someone, shake their hand and respond with, “it’s very nice to meet you “ and say their name. Saying someone’s name within the first 30 seconds of meeting will greatly improve your memory.

 
How do you win friends and influence people? Please leave your comments below or send me an email: [email protected].