What It Takes To Talk To People
Whether you have to explain an idea, sell a product or profess some undeclared feelings, the skill of communication maximizes the probability of success in each of the former scenarios. And like every other skill, communication can be learned, improved upon and lead you to future success.
That is why for someone who isn't well versed in the field of rhetoric or negotiation, but wants to express their ideas and make people believe in them; for someone who wants to be able to talk to big clients and finalize the sale; for someone who just wants to form better relationships with their friends, colleagues or superiors. There really is no better book then "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie!
There's a reason why this book which was first released in 1937, has had 14 different updated versions released since and still tops the charts as the bestselling Self-Help Book. The book is split into four sections, each looking at accomplishing a single task whether it be "How To Win People To Your Way of Thinking" or "Ways To Make People Like You" and similar others. Each section gives you a set of techniques to apply to specific situations happening in your life. These situations range from "How to Make A Good First Impression" or "How To Criticize And Not Be Hated For It ".
To give you a taste of what the book has to offer, here is an excerpt from the section "How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking", detailing the technique "The Secret of Socrates"
The Secret Of Socrates
"In talking with people don't begin by discussing the things on which you differ. Begin by emphasizing - and keep on emphasizing the things on which you agree...Get the other person Saying 'YES, yes' at the start itself...When a person says 'No'... the entire organism glandular, nervous, muscular- gathers itself together into a condition of rejection... on the contrary for a 'YES', none of the withdrawal activities take place”
Principle 5 - Get the other person saying 'yes, yes' immediately.
Of course this entire technique is explained across multiple pages and with real life examples to drive the point home.
There are around 30 unique techniques that are explained in the book, each and every one of them may not be applicable to you but I guarantee you will like half of them and a few will surely change how you see and approach certain scenarios. The book teaches you a productive way of positive thinking that makes you happier.
With each re-read you will gather some more insights that you never saw before, and all in all this is page by page one of the best books written on how to interact with people!