Skills With People
- Willliam Vogel
- Apr 25, 2017
- 3 min read
Skills With People I read this little book that is probably one of the simplest books I have read, but one of the most profound if you are involved with people. The title of the book is "Skills With People." The author Les Giblin writes, "what counts is the way we get along with people should bring you personal satisfaction without trampling on egos of those you deal with." I have been indirectly involved as well as directly involved in a number of political campaigns. I have sat across the table from a potential candidate (usually a Republican or independent), who can site for you a logical reason for change or specific legislation. They can usually rattle off percentages and great formulas, many times with great gusto. The reality is that those facts are right and make great sense. I have to break their bubble. I tell them, "you are going to lose." To which they respond.. Why? I tell them just as I tell leaders in business and ministry you will never win with logic, you will win with emotion. Rational thinking only goes so far and your opponents know this (They are Democrats). They are not interested in the rational but instead interested in attaching their message to the emotion of the voter. I also stress to these potential candidates it is very important that they know the difference between responding and reacting. REACTING is often not well thought through and very often takes on a defensive coat, while RESPONDING takes on a coat of many colors and usually is done in a positive manner. Usually an opponent will try to get to get their opponents on the defensive, which in turn gets them into a negative news cycle and strikes a blow that often can not be erased and labels that candidate. Business, ministry, personal conflict and opinion work the same way. I have watched many destroy much of what they built by forgetting a very important fact. That is, they are in the people building business. People in turn build the business or ministry. The question we must ask ourselves; are we trying to win people's hearts by using our persuasive gifts? We all need to learn how to make our points in such a way the other person is not offended. This is a skill. Your goal should always be to move people toward you rather than away from you without becoming pragmatic or manipulative. . These are some of keys to doing just that! 1. Listen without talking. 2. Be polite and thoughtful. 3. Be generous with truthful compliments. 4. Recognize any achievements, current and past. 5. Always give the person credit that they rightly deserve. 6. Let a person think it is their idea even if it's yours. 7. Say no without being offensive. 8. Ask pointed and thoughtful questions, ie. How would you solve the problem? What suggestions would you have? 9. State your views calmly, but with energy. 10. Bring up their side of the argument first, then yours. Plant your belief and help them water it and watch the flower bloom as they move their opinions toward you and your reality. Abraham Lincoln was extremely good at this. He had to bring a country back together that had become divided and both sides held deep beliefs. Now we are witnessing a schism in our nation. Donald Trump, is doing his best to work to bring new ideas to the American Landscape with both sides doing their best to make their points. Both of these men learned the importance of persuasion and the fact that everything is a negotiation. Please do not misunderstand, there are absolute truths from Gods Word and I will not negotiate these truths but even these truths need to be be presented in a way to draw all men to God. This usually is in a loving and respectful manner - to attract. With unshakable vision and direction toward their goals these men learned they needed to persuade and put their people skills into action. Order the book today on Amazon- Skills With People. $ 4.99 Start with the Truth, then look for ways to connect and build up and draw people to the confrontation of their life time. A point of decision. Will they say yes to Christ or will they reject Him?