Monday, February 28, 2011

Let the Other Person Save Face: The Dale Carnegie Method

Commentary: This is a continuing series of posts reviewing Dale Carnegie's book 'How to Win Friends and Influence People'. This program is attractive in professional relationships due to it's time tested advice for those moving up the ladder of success. I have been introduced to Dale Carnegie training not once but twice. I attended Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School or AOCS during 1988 through which Dale Carnegie principles were first introduced to me, at least in part. Years later during 1999, I attended the Dale Carnegie school and coursework introducing me again to the Dale Carnegie method and principles.  I will be detailing only one principle a week in a shorter post in order to for you to digest the information. This series  may be reviewed at All the Principles in One Post

Let the Other Person Save Face

Letting others save face in awkward, embarrassing, and/or sensitive situations is vitally important. How few ever stop to think about this? So many people ride rough shod over other people's feelings in efforts to get our own way. We find fault, issue threats, criticize people in front of others, without even considering the hurt to other people's pride and dignity. Whereas for a few minutes' of thought, a considerate word, a genuine understanding of the other person's attitude would go far to alleviating the sting. 

Even if we are 100% right and the other person is 100% wrong, we destroy ego, dignity, and pride by causing someone to lose face. True leaders will always;

Principle 26: Let the other person save face

References:

Carnegie, D. (1981). How to win friends and influence people. New York: Pocket Books.

No comments:

Post a Comment