Saturday, August 15, 2009

A Secret of Success

By Hal Urban, PhD, The Bottom Line

Bring out the best in others. Successful people actively build strong relationships. They do it by bringing out the best in others. Consider Benjamin Franklin. Though often thought of as a natural diplomat, he wasn't born that way. Franklin wrote that he had to work hard to overcome his tendency to fault others. As an experiment, he vowed to look for the good in others instead of judging or criticizing them - and to say only kind things about people. The experience affected him profoundly, and he credited these efforts for much of his diplomatic skill.

Don't just look for the good in people - tell them about it. Make a point of affirming at least two people every day. And say thank you at every opportunity. Showing appreciation is one of the surest ways to nurture strong relationships.

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