Book - How to Win Friends And Influence people

How to win friends and Influence people is a classic in self-help or personality development category. The original edition of the book was written in 1937 by Dale Carnegie. However the principles mentioned in the book are timeless and it can be used by generations of people as long as human kind exists.

The goal of the book is to provide certain principles to follow in successfully interacting with people, get the other person to buy-in your views, get the other person to do something which you need, to get the other person be friends with you and be influenced by you. Since it deals with communication and interaction, the principles apply to every individual whether it is personal, professional or business interactions.

Noting down few of the principles below:

• Fundamental Techniques in handling people:
• Avoid criticism, complains instead use positive reinforcement techniques
• Give honest appreciations (Be lavish in appreciations)
• Talk in terms of benefits the other person will have
• Make the other person feel important:
• Become genuinely interested in other people. (A timeless snippet which can be followed easily is - say "if you are answering a telephone call, have a tone that shows interest, and respect for the other person.)
• Smile
• Know the person by the first name and use the name to address the person
• Be a good listener. Show interest in what other person has to say.
• Talk in terms of other person's interests
• Make the other person feel important
• To influence people to your way of thinking
• Avoid argument. There is no pint in winning an argument and losing a friendship
• Never say "you are wrong"
• Be emphatic about one's mistake and quickly admit it
• Get the other person to say "yes yes" to make them align with your views
• Let the other person feel the idea is theirs
• Appeal to nobler motives. People are often motivated by quality of their work/reputation etc. Try to keep the motivation intact and encourage it.
• Throw a challenge
• How to change people - Be a leader
• Begin with praise and honest appreciation
• Don't point out the mistakes directly. It is important that the other person should not get into a situation where he has to defend himself.
• Talk about one's own mistakes before criticizing
• Avoid giving direct orders instead ask question that lead people to take actions on their own
• Be lavish in appreciations
• Give the other person a reputation to live up to. 
• Use encouragement and tell the other person the mistakes are easy to overcome

The book is peppered with various examples from history and as well as of people who had experiences following these principles. Book is worthy read and it is important to be reminded of the principles when interacting with other people especially in a difficult circumstance. The principles mentioned offers a guideline which can be followed when dealing with certain situations. Many of the principles can be made as habits which will lead to an overall improvement in working and living with other inhabitants of this world.