Dale Carnegie's 1937 book "How to Win Friends and Influence Others" is a very successful title in the self help genre. As of 2010, it has sold 15 million copies. It promises to teach the reader ways to become a better friend, parent, and employee.
Handling People
Carnegie recommends that when dealing with people, you restrain tendencies to be negative. People respond well to compliments, and not to criticism. Speak positively of people you interact with, both to their face and to others.
Making People Like You
Carnegie's second section says be sincerely interested in what people are saying, and smile often. Be an active listener, engaged in the conversation and responding to the other person. The section also suggests that developing your memory so you can put faces with names will make a good impression.
How to Win People Over
The third section of the book advises readers not to get into arguments and to drop points of contention. Don't tell people they're wrong, and always deliver bad news or criticism with a compliment. Get cooperation on a project by being assertive and getting people to say yes to your propositions.
Be a Leader
In the final section to the book, Carnegie recommends not giving orders, but suggestions. Let people save face if they make mistakes, and compliment any improvements. If you give advice, make the problem seem simple to fix.
