How to Win Friends and Influence People - Book Report/Review Example

How to Win Friends and Influence People Introduction Creation of relationships in an organization is essential and requires individuals with distinguished character traits. Individuals need to be keen on their choice of friends in either the work place or any other area. This is necessary for building harmonious relationships between people of diverse cultures, leading to increased productivity. Winning friends and influencing people is the principal element require by all leaders to enhance the behavior of individuals together with the organizational interactions. The principal concern of this essay is on winning friends and influencing people. It comprises of several theories of organizational behavior applied in the book. In addition, it involves a chosen and researched premises found in the book. Further, there is justification of the study carried out. Finally, is a recommendation of the lessons learned n the book by others individuals. Overview of “how to win friends & influence people” Carnegie Dale is the writer of the book “how to win friends & influence people”. This book looks down to portray how human beings win and influence others. The protagonist characters in the book are Simon and Schuster. It is through the protagonist in the book that Carnegie reveals the existing organizational behavioral theories. Carnegie wins particular individuals attracted to the book through various strategies necessary when one needs to be closer to them. The book illustrates the primary purpose of the author, which is modification of individuals’ behavior in order to win them or influence them into performing other tasks. Carnegie states that individuals should apply for job opportunities. After submitting the applications, they should gain the desire on the job and look forward to getting it (job). The book also makes people have a perception on how possible it is to get jobs of their (individual) desires. It also stresses on the value of improving a specific job opportunity once one is under an employment. Carnegie suggests how individuals may improve the job and this is through depicting on the current situation that one is experiencing. The situation here works as a guideline to the performance of tasks involved in the job. Further, the book lays down different ways used when desiring to win over a person. It also specifies ways that one has to use in order to be admirable. Finally, the book outlines ways of imparting change on people without generating resistance. Use of the book “how to win friends and influence people” The book is important because of several reasons as stated by Carnegie. For instance, it helps in improving managerial ways of administration. This is because it acts as guide to individuals with the responsibility of managing others (especially employees or lower level staffs). It helps individuals acquire tactics on how to manage ones personal life. The book is significant in that it helps individuals to acquire more knowledge regarding to how life works and how to link individual relationships with those (relationship) of other individuals. Concepts of organizational behavior Organizational behavior refers to the way individual workers and other employees in a certain group tend to behave within the environment of the organization. Various organizational concepts seek to modify the behavior portrayed by some employees through turning it (behavior) to be of value in their performance. The concepts help bring an understanding of the reasons why individual characters behave in different ways. This involves several concepts, which are the principal determinants of the behavior that people display in the organizations. Organizational behavior concepts applied by Carnegie The various organizational concepts as applied by Carnegie are of significance when hoping to have the ability to win and influence other individuals. This necessitates managers to use rewards especially positive rewards to increase the morale that employees have. Managers look forward to improve the standards of work in their respective organizations. The principal concepts applied by Carnegie in the book are motivation and practical teachings. The way of conceptual functioning is different and hence the reason for applying two concepts. These concepts exhibit the reason for choosing the title, “how to win friends and influence people”. To begin with, motivation is a crucial element in leadership activities. Leaders win individuals by establishing motivating factors (such as incentives, salary increment), which help increase workers morale to undertake tasks (Napoleon and Stone 153). On the other hand, practical teachings are necessary when made available to employees. It is an expectation of the leaders to offer training sessions to employees (Carnegie 166). The contents of the training programs should be on technological changes, which affects performance of some employees (especially if one lacks skills required in the technological world). Training is of importance since it helps deter employees from resisting implementation of new techniques (Rand 74). This is a tool required when influencing employees to carry out detailed tasks. Premises set forth in Carnegie’s book The premise of Carnegie’s book is about how to influence people. This is because it is through influence that one is able to win friends. Individuals should first look forward to success in creating pleasant environments so that they hinder resistance of people they desire to influence. A liked person is likely to influence others within a certain period than a despised person who will take much time to influence few people. The premises are reliable in that individuals obtain data necessary for influencing people. The premise asserts that individuals must be in possession of the admirable characteristic for them to influence more employees. Therefore, it is worth noting that all individuals wishing to influence the behavior of other human beings rely on the premise chosen by Carnegie. Impact of the book and its practical value in the work place The book, “how to win friends and influence people” is a necessity to my way of living in the work place. The book strengthened my relationship with others, enabled me to manage stress, and made me adopt the rising changes within the organizational environment (Taylor np). Carnegie’s work also helped me become self confident, helped explore leadership skills, and improve my communication skills. This is important information, which when passed to other individuals can be of great use to them. The practical value of Carnegie’s works, “how to win friends and influence people” is that leaders should exercise some of the leadership skills, communication skills, and acquiring various tactics that enhance interpersonal relationships. It is through exercises that they become leaders with unique qualities and they enhance their power of control over other individuals. Summary Managers are crucial beings found within the context of any organization. They are the co-directors of all employees in a specific working environment. The theme of Carnegie’s book requires managers to build better relations with the employees. This is significant in ensuring that employees have a positive attitude toward accomplishing set targets. To ensure a complete win of employees, managers should get along with the concepts of organizational behavior. Such concepts help to impede resistance by employees. Conclusion In conclusion, it is worth noting that leadership or managerial functions depend on the potential of the managers to influence particular individuals. A manager desiring to carry out a tough task should ensure that the information passed on the workers is in such a way that they will not have constraints performing the job. Concepts of organizational behavior used dictate the ability of workers to undertake assigned tasks. This is evident though motivating employees whereby they (employees) work towards accomplishment of the set targets. This results to an increase in morale and helps to reduce incapability to perform duties. Recommendation of the book On my opinion, it is vital to recommend other individuals to have a copy of “how to win friends and influence people”. This is due to the positive impacts attached on the book. The book is useful to the well being of individuals in several ways. Carnegie states that leaders should aim at influencing subordinates. Influence is one of the necessities for the growth of organizations. Individuals who read this book gain more knowledge on how to interact well with people and make friends within a short time. It helps individuals to gain skills on how to be popular (Taylor np). Through reading the book, an individual (person A) enhance skills on winning people (persons B and C) regarding to one’s (person A) thoughts. Reading the book is also significant to leaders since it is from it (book) that they increase their ability of getting works done, gaining more prestige, and acquiring more influencing power (Hill and Stone 6). Therefore, the book is worth reading because it results to an improvement in the relationships of different individuals and leads to increased organizational productivity. Works cited Carnegie, Dale. (1937). How to Win Friends & Influence People. New York: Simon and Shuster. Retrieved on October 24, from http://images.kw.com/docs/2/1/2/212345/1285134779158_htwfaip.pdf Hill, Napoleon, and Stone W. Success through a positive mental attitude. New York, NY: USA print. Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged. New York, N.Y: Signet, 2007. Print. Taylor, Terry. Residential Integrator's Customer Relations. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson/Delmar Learning, 2007. Print. Read More