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There are few skills in life more important than “people skills”.  Your ability to interact with others will affect your job, your happiness and everything in between.  Worried about losing your job in the tough economy?  Build a better relationship with your boss.  Already lost your job and having trouble finding a new one?  Network your way to better relationships with those in a position to hire you.  Want to live a happier life?  Build better relationships with your family and friends.

Success magazine (I received a subscription to this for Christmas,  excellent magazine) recently ran an article about Dale Cargnegie, author of the best book ever written on building relationships, How to Win Friends and Influence People.  The article highlights several of Carnegie’s keys to influencing and leading people, including the following:

  • Avoid arguments.
  • Don’t point out when people are wrong.  Respect differing viewpoints.
  • When you are wrong, admit it emphatically and move on.
  • You will get more in business with honey than vinegar.  Be friendly and gentle.
  • When you begin a conversation with someone–even if it is an opponent–focus on things upon which you agree.
  • Let the other person talk more than you do.  Listen fully.
  • Lead people to the conclusion you want by making suggestions, but ultimately let a person feel the idea was his or hers.
  • Try honestly to see things from the other person’s viewpoint.
  • Believe people are inherently good and honest.
  • Use showmanship or dramatic techniques to sell your product.
  • Create competition in the spirit of a desire to excell to get the best out of your people.
  • When pointing out someone’s mistakes, talk about them indirectly.
  • Talk about your own fallibility before pointing out someone else’s.
  • Use questions to lead people instead of giving direct orders.
  • Let other people maintain their pride.
  • Lavish praise anytime you see an improvement.
  • See the best in people and then they will rise to your expectation.
  • Be supportive and make mistakes seem easy to correct.
  • When you want people to do things the way you suggest, point out the benefits.

I received a copy of Carnegie’s book for Christmas, and these tips and the rest of the article from Success make me want to start reading it write now.

We’ve all heard the expression “it’s not what you know, but who you know”.  I think that should be taken a step further.  It’s not necessarily who you know either, but how good your relationship with them is.  By implementing the above strategies, you can help build strong relationships with the people you know, which in turn could present opportunities to provide a huge boost to your finances.

Please continue sending any personal finance related questions, suggestions and story tips to centsabilitytowealth@gmail.com

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