In my journey to become a Program Manager there are many interesting books to read. One of them is “Program Management – A Life Cycle Approach” which is edited by Ginger Levin. It’s more or less a summary of the complete “Best Practices and Advances in Program Management Series” of CRC Press.
In the Stakeholder Management paragraph they phrased an old favorite writer of my, Dale Carnegie. Dale Carnegie wrote “How to Win Friends and Influence People” which teached me some essential skills for surviving in the project management jungle.
Hereby the devoted paragraph:
Another important aspect to communicating with people is to get on the same wavelength as them. Dale Carnegie notes “Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking”:
1. Avoid arguments (constructive debate is fine).
2. Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never tell someone that he or she is wrong.
3. If you’re wrong, admit it quickly and make it clear you are doing so.
4. Begin discussions in a friendly, not aggressive, way.
5. Start with questions to which you feel the other person will answer “Yes”.
6. Let the other person do most of the talking.
7. Let the other person feel an idea discussed is his/hers.
8. Concentrate on seeing things from the other person’s point of view.
9. Sympathize with the other person.
10. Appeal to noble motives.
11. Give your ideas body and mass (e.g. by telling compelling stories).
12. Don’t talk negatively when a person is absent; be positive.”
Integrate these 12 ways of thinking into your pattern of project management and see how it works out for you.
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