How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People

People Who Need People

Success does not occur in a vacuum. Whether you are building a business or cultivating friendships, success depends on other people and how you treat them. Relationships are built on give-and-take. Trying to get the things you need while “giving other people what they want” is neither manipulative nor shameful. The key to getting along is recognizing that you can’t force people to be loyal, friendly or cooperative, but you can make them want to get along with you. With few exceptions, those who flourish professionally are outgoing, personable and genuine. They enjoy the company of others and rarely feel threatened by a colleague’s success.

Understanding how human nature operates will give you the self-assurance and ability to interact with others. Many people are trying to overcome the huge obstacle of low self-esteem. Those who feel insecure are usually hypersensitive and not receptive to constructive criticism. To compensate for low self-esteem, some people become aggressive, loud and arrogant. They bully others to protect their fragile egos and frequently misinterpret honest communication as confrontation. Arguing with such people is useless...