How to Win Friends and Influence People
Week 19
Principle: Try to honestly see things from the other person’s point of view
“Honestly”. That is the key.
What I have appreciated most as we journey through this book is the underlying foundation that we need to have a heart check. These principles are not about manipulating our ways to the top. These principles require us to take a back seat and put the client first.
When Carnegie says to honestly see things from the other person’s point of view, he is reiterating the idea that to do good business, we cannot be about ourselves. We are here to serve, to love, and to give to our clients. These principles give us practical tips on how to go about this.
Honestly. It is not manipulative; it is genuine. It is not selfish; it is selfless.
This is a challenge to live above reproach. This is a challenge to stop pursuing our ideas, and pursue our client’s ideas. This is a challenge to not be focused on taking a good photograph, but on serving your client best. It is a challenge to put people before pictures.
Below I have listed a few ways to apply this principle in our business relationships.
1. Do not condemn them.
2. Try to put yourself in their place. Try to understand them, their vision, and why they want to do things the way that they do.
3. Observe. You’ve got to listen in order to ask good questions.
4. Show them that you consider their ideas and feelings just as important as your own.
5. Ask yourself, “Why should they want to do it?” Let this drive your thinking and your conversation.