« Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People | Main | Utah Business Names Jim Sorenson CEO of the Year »

Mar 1
Don't Treat People Like They're Stupid

The first good lesson to take from Dale Carnegie's How To Win Friends and Influence People is:  Don't treat people likey they're stupid (or cheaters, crooks, punks, or otherwise undesirable).

criminal.jpgCarnegie points out the story of a murder who described himself thus:  "Under my coat is a weary heart, but a kind one--one that would do nobody any harm."  His point was that no one, not even a brutal murderer sees himself objectively and certainly doesn't want to be confronted by his weaknesses.

While I'm not a bona fide web designer, I think that in this modern era, one needs to consider the way that a web site might make someone feel as she uses it.  If the user can't navigate the web site easily, she will feel frustrated and even a little stupid.  How likely would you be to return to a web site that makes you feel stupid?

Not treating people like they're stupid is also important for managers and executives in any company.  Given that employees don't want to feel stupid, do you think they want to have you point out their flaws at every turn.

One basic technique that allows you to avoid plainly pointing out faults to your people is to ask a genuine question about the issue.  I can think of times when I've indignantly pointed out an obvious mistake to one of my team members only to have her explain why I was the one who didn't understand.  So I look like an idiot and she certainly doesn't feel any better being backed into a corner and forced to make me look stupid.  I'm learning instead to ask a genuine question, like "Can you help me understand your analysis by walking me through it?"

By working through the analysis together, we discover weaknesses together and both our dignity is preserved.

Applying this thinking to the relationship between venture capitalists and entrepreneurs can also go a long way toward building successful relationships there, too.


0 Comments/Trackbacks




submit a trackback

TrackBack URL for this entry:

post a comment

Name, Email Address, and URL are not required fields.





Comment Preview

« Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People | Main | Utah Business Names Jim Sorenson CEO of the Year »

advertisement

sponsored ads



subscribe


Prefer Email?
Subscribe below-

Enter your Email:


Powered by FeedBlitz What's this?

Current News

Support This Blog

My site was nominated for Best Business Blog!

business social media

Use these fast growing business social media sites to promote your business, feature your products, spotlight your business leaders, create links, and drive traffic back to your company site, all for free!

BIZZlogos - Add your logo - free link to your site
BIZZphotos - Add photos of your products and people
BIZZprofiles - Submit your profile and build your online visibility
BIZZspotlight - Spotlight your business with free links
BIZZvideos - Videos about businesses, products and business people.
BIZZbites - "Digg" for Business - Submit your articles and posts

know more media network

View Network Map

Network Feed List (OPML)

Know More Media Network
Feed


we support unitus

PRWeb

Influencer



MidMarketMaven is a member of the Know More Media network of business related blogs.

Here are some current headlines from some of our business publications:

ProductivityGoal

CallCenterScript

AdHurl

TheBizofKnowledge

LandingTheDeal

CustomersAreAlways

HealthCareVox

BrainBasedBusiness

TheInsurancePolicy

MarketingBlurb