I don't know who Dave Packard is or why I had saved the following in my inbox but I think these 'rules' are super helpful to think about when spending time with anybody. I'm really good at number 10. Not so good at number 5. And terrible about number 8. What about you, what do you think of these 'rules'? Are there any you disagree with?
Dave Packard's 11 Simple Rules
1. Think first of the other fellow. This is THE foundation — the first requisite — for getting along with others. And it is the one truly difficult accomplishment you must make. Gaining this, the rest will be "a breeze."
2. Build up the other person's sense of importance.
When we make the other person seem less important, we frustrate one
of his deepest urges. Allow him to feel equality or superiority, and
we can easily get along with him.
3. Respect the other man's personality rights.
Respect as something sacred the other fellow's right to be different
from you. No two personalities are ever molded by precisely the same
forces.
4. Give sincere appreciation. If we think someone has done a thing well, we should never hesitate to let him know it.
WARNING: This does not mean promiscuous use of obvious flattery.
Flattery with most intelligent people gets exactly the reaction it
deserves — contempt for the egotistical "phony" who stoops to it.
5. Eliminate the negative.
Criticism seldom does what its user intends, for it invariably causes
resentment. The tiniest bit of disapproval can sometimes cause a
resentment which will rankle — to your disadvantage — for years.
6. Avoid openly trying to reform
people. Every man knows he is imperfect, but he doesn't want someone
else trying to correct his faults. If you want to improve a
person, help him to embrace a higher working goal — a standard, an
ideal — and he will do his own "making over" far more effectively than
you can do it for him.
7. Try to understand the other
person. How would you react to similar circumstances? When you begin
to see the "whys" of him you can't help but get along better with
him.
8. Check first impressions.
We are especially prone to dislike some people on first sight because
of some vague resemblance (of which we are usually unaware) to
someone else whom we have had
reason to dislike. Follow Abraham Lincoln's famous self-instruction: "I do not like that man; therefore I shall get to know him better."
9. Take care with the little
details. Watch your smile, your tone of voice, how you use your eyes,
the way you greet people, the use of nicknames and remembering faces,
names and dates. Little things add polish to your skill in dealing
with people. Constantly, deliberately think of them until they become a
natural part of your personality.
10. Develop genuine interest in people. You
cannot successfully apply the foregoing suggestions unless you have
a sincere desire to like, respect and be helpful to others.
Conversely, you cannot build genuine interest in people until you have
experienced the pleasure of working with them in an atmosphere
characterized by mutual liking and respect.
11. Keep it up. That's all — just keep it up!
