How to Make People Like You
Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" has stood the test of time for a reason: the tips and strategies outlined in the book are both simple and effective when implemented consistently.
Part 2, "Six Ways to Make People Like You," offers valuable insights on how to build positive relationships and connect with others.
Some key takeaways include:
Become genuinely interested in other people.
Show a genuine interest in others by researching their interests and topics of conversation before meeting with them.
Smile.
Smiling can greatly enhance one's interactions with others and convey a sense of warmth and approachability.
To ensure that your smile is and feels genuine, it is important to smile slowly, rather than forcing a quick grin. This allows your smile to be more authentic and inviting.
Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
Pronounce people's names correctly, even if it means asking them to say it a couple of times.
Also make an effort to spell their name correctly in written communication, like emails.
Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
Use open-ended questions and actively listen to encourage others to talk about themselves. As a non-native speaker, you may have a tendency to worry and plan what to say next.
Unfortunately, this hurts you more than it helps you because it distracts you from listening intently and having genuine reactions.
Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
Look for nonverbal cues to gauge a person's interests and tailor your conversation accordingly.
Pay attention so you can notice when a topic they like comes up so you can ask more about it.
Make the other person feel important—and do it sincerely.
Compliment things that show the other person has put effort into, such as their presentation skills, rather than just physical appearances.
For example, complimenting a person’s presentation skills will be valued more than a compliment about their appearance. It shows you noticed something they have probably work hard on doing well. Also, it’s more professional.
If you haven’t already, sign up for our Leadership Book Club here.
Communication Is Key
Technical skills get you hired, but soft skills get you promoted. Interpersonal communication, in particular, is a soft skill that plays a crucial role in career advancement.
Invest in your future by investing time and effort to improve your communication skills. You got this!
Get Coaching That Gets Results
Click here for a 1:1 coaching program that will help you achieve your career goals faster through customized communication training designed for non-native speakers.
“Tannia is a very authentic person and is able to provide clients powerful and versatile communication tools that can be employed in daily conversations, in negotiations or in meetings. Recently, an American client told me that she’s really impressed with my English. It felt awesome. Thanks, Tannia, for your support!” —Chris G.