365 Days of Living the Dale Carnegie Principles
Day 74. Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Preface: I was embarrassed to post this blog on Monday. So I posted an alternate event that happened on the same day. After consideration—I do want to share the originally planned story. The Tuesday entry will follow. (Just read the whole thing—it comes together nicely)
Monday:
Today’s entry might not count. I didn’t use Carnegie principles well—if at all.
This woman we will call Gasoline with Match Lady—emailed me on (Monday) morning and copied my boss. She was complaining I hadn’t answered an email. It’s true. I hadn’t. But the ball was not in my court— it was in management’s.
I decided to ignore Gasoline’s email until 4 pm. (Really smart, I know.) The emails between us were turning tense fast. I knew better— but I picked up the phone and called Gasoline. I figured it would be easier to talk to her in person. And it would have been. Except both of our tempers were—well… boiling.
We talked in circles. We were not communicating on the same level. Since we weren’t hearing each other our voices got higher and higher. It was getting stupid.
At odds with each other
I tried to think through my words but I was at a loss. After she lectured me I replied I wasn’t put on this planet to serve so-and-so. It was at this point I think we both ran out of energy and talked more civilly. I asked her to provide suggestions. I tried not to shoot them down immediately. I listened, asked questions and we both arrived at the same conclusion: sleep on it.
Frankly I think I did everything wrong when it comes to using the Dale Carnegie principles. I knew better than to approach Gasoline with Match Lady on a Monday. I was irritated by her attempt at making me look bad with my boss. So learn from me: When you criticize, condemn or complain—most people—even Smiling Daffodil, will do everything possible to dig their heels in, close down or fight back. What a waste of energy.
For my part, I should have used Dale Carnegie’s principle from How to Stop Worrying and Start Living:
Don’t fuss about trifles.
Because quite frankly the subject matter that Gasoline with Match Lady and I were arguing about was just that—a silly marketing trifle.
Now read on! I’m really proud of this!
Tuesday:
Today I made the dreaded phone call to Gasoline with Match Lady. I asked her if she had a chance to sleep on the marketing problem from yesterday and she said she did. But she didn’t have a solution and she proceeded to state the problem that we were already very familiar with.
I made light of the matter by saying the solution was right under our nose. I proceeded to spell out the details of the marketing program that would solve our problem. I discussed the concept in a friendly way, pointing out that she had already done much of the work.
Once I was finished presenting the solution, she agreed enthusiastically. We were both stunned by the contrast between today’s phone conversation and yesterday’s.
The Dale Carnegie principles I used are from How to Win Friends and Influence People:
Principle 13. Begin in a friendly way.
From How to Stop Worrying and Start Living:
Write out and answer the following questions:
a. What is the problem?
b. What are the causes of the problem?
c. What are the possible solutions?
d. What is the best possible solution?
My judgment was too clouded on Monday to list possible solutions to the problem. In fact, I made it worse by talking to Gasoline with Match Lady. So I decided to box up the problem, put it on a shelf in my head and revisit it in the morning with a clearer head. When you take a similar approach, you will find the answer to your problem is very obvious.
Housekeeping / Notes
Wednesday is the big day for the guest blogger! I am certain you will enjoy his post. So be sure to allocate enough time to read TWO blogs. : )
Don’t forget—the Smiling Daffodil’s blog is big enough for a whole garden of guest bloggers. Looking forward to hearing from you!
The Smiling Daffodil 