If you want to really win friends and influence people at work:
- Be on time and prepared for meetings. That alone will make you shine like a star.
- Turn in work ahead of schedule. Forget procrastination, get things done early.
- Turn in work error free. I need to practice this one if you haven’t noticed that my columns invariably have some typo or grammatical errors.
- Return email and voice mail the same business day (if only to acknowledge receipt of it with a message telling them when you’ll get back to them). Realize that even though many people procrastinate sending you a message, human nature is that they will often expect you to respond immediately.
- Follow up with people, even if you have to do it more than once. Don’t just stop and think, “Well I called them back so I’m off the hook.” If they don’t get back to you, it’s not personal. Everyone is overloaded.
- Never bring up a problem without coming up with a solution. And make it one that will make sense, feel right and be doable in your company’s corporate culture to your boss.
- Never lie. People will forgive an honest mistake, but they won’t forgive or forget if you lie.
- Sincerely congratulate others on their success. It is one of the best ways to counteract the jealousy and envy that can kill you.
- Express compassion. Tell people you’re sorry when bad things happen to them. This is not to be confused with the empty, “I’m sorry,” excuse that you say after you mess up to try to get out of some punishment.
- Smile more than you frown. Research shows you can’t hold a smile for more than ten seconds and be angry at the same time.
- Be easier to please than you are to upset. Don’t be high maintenance.
- Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it. Follow through means never having to say you’re sorry.
- If you have a w-h-i-n-i-n-g voice (ask your friends), stop it. Nails on a chalkboard do not win friends or influence anyone.
- If you have a strident voice (ask your friends), stop it. More chalk.
- If you pout, stop it.
- If you act sullen, stop it.
- If you blame others, stop it.
- If you make other people wrong, stop it.
- If you make excuses, stop it.
- If you cry too easily, stop it.