Give honest, sincere appreciation.
This tip comes from Dale Carnegie’s, How to Win Friends and Influence People from a section called, The Big Secret of Dealing with People. Here’s how he distinguishes appreciation from flattery:
“The difference between appreciation and flattery? That is simple. One is sincere and the other is insincere. One comes from the heart out; the other from the teeth out. One is unselfish; the other selfish. One is universally admired; the other universally condemned.... If all we had to do was flatter, everybody would catch on and we should all be experts in human relations.
When we are not engaged in thinking about some definite problem, we usually spend about 95 percent of our time thinking about ourselves. Now, if we stop thinking about ourselves for a while and begin to think of the other person’s good points, we don’t have to resort to flattery so cheap and false that it can be spotted almost before it is out of the mouth.”
Well, there’s nothing unclear or indirect about that advice from Carnegie, is there!
This is a great tip for everyone, but particularly important for managers and leaders, who rely on the strengths of their relationships to get things done.

I am amazed to realize how many years ago Carnegie wrote his book and how true it is still today, I think this advice on honest feedback is even more important today than ever,
and it is always good to be reminded,
thanks.
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thanks.
Posted by: Joseph | September 14, 2010 at 05:50 PM