Keys To Connecting 16

Picture this, you walk into a store and immediately you are pounced on by a salesperson. She asks if you need help and you mutter something like, “I’m just looking.” But, she won’t take that for an answer. And she begins peppering you with questions and making suggestions. Sounds terrifying, doesn’t it?!

Or you are at an office meeting and one of your co-workers can’t seem to recognize any suggestions other than his own. He’s like a dog with a bone. He dominates the meeting and nothing gets done. Sounds mind numbing?!

What if there is a better way? Mr. Dale Carnegie, in his book How To Win Friends & Influence People, gives us a principle that he abides by – Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.

Mr. Carnegie opens Chapter 7 with this, Don’t you have much more faith in ideas that you discover for yourself than in ideas that are handed to you on a silver platter? If so, isn’t it bad judgment to try to ram your opinions down the throats of other people? Isn’t it wiser to make suggestions – and let the other person think out the conclusion?

He continues with this, No one likes to feel that he or she is being sold something or told to do a thing. We much prefer to feel that we are buying of our own accord or acting on our own ideas. We like to be consulted about our wishes, our wants, our thoughts.

So, next time you have a great idea. Instead of forcing it down the throats of others, present it and then step back. Allow those around you to view it through their lenses. Let them apply it to their lives. Let them ask questions and generate answers. I have a feeling you will discover they will be more accepting of it when they are given a chance to make it their own.

How have you successfully presented ideas?