Reference · Carnegie
The 30 Principles, one page
Compressed from Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936, rev. 1981). The book numbers principles separately in each part: 3 + 6 + 12 + 9 = 30. Drill until you can recite each part from memory.
Part 1 - Fundamental Techniques (3)
- Don't criticize, condemn or complain.
- Give honest and sincere appreciation.
- Arouse in the other person an eager want.
Part 2 - Six ways to make people like you (6)
- Become genuinely interested in other people.
- Smile.
- Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
- Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
- Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
- Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.
Part 3 - Win people to your way of thinking (12)
- The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
- Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say, "You're wrong."
- If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
- Begin in a friendly way.
- Get the other person saying "yes, yes" immediately.
- Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
- Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
- Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view.
- Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires.
- Appeal to the nobler motives.
- Dramatize your ideas.
- Throw down a challenge.
Part 4 - Be a leader: change people without offense or resentment (9)
- Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
- Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
- Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
- Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
- Let the other person save face.
- Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise."
- Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
- Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
- Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.
Remember this
No criticism. Honor first. Sell the other person's want, never your own.
Full text: How to Win Friends and Influence People (PDF) · Back to Lesson 01