How to Make People Like You

How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (Part 3 of 5 mini series)

✍️ By Debbie Balfour | WBN News |August 10, 2025 | Click HERE for your FREE Subscription to WBN News and/or to be a Contributor.

Want to be memorable in business? Learn how to be likable—on purpose.

In Chapters 4–10 of How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie breaks down six timeless principles that make people want to be around you. Not because you’re persuasive. Because you’re present.

People want to feel seen. Heard. Valued.
And most of us underestimate how rare that actually is.

Here are Carnegie’s Six Principles to Make People Like You:

Become genuinely interested in other people
Smile
Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest sound in any language
Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves
Talk in terms of the other person’s interests
Make the other person feel important—and do it sincerely

That’s not fluff, that’s neuroscience.
When someone feels important in your presence, they associate you with that feeling. That’s what deepens trust, opens doors, and builds business momentum.

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Pick one principle to focus on each day this week.
Practice remembering and using names in every conversation.
In your next meeting, ask one curiosity-driven question.
Reflect each night: When did I make someone feel important today?
Track energy: How did people respond differently to you this week?

Thought-Provoking Question:

Which of the six likability principles do you naturally lead with, and which one needs more intentionality?

Task:

Write the six principles down. Choose one person each day to consciously apply a different one with. Journal what changes.

Conclusion:

Likability is not a talent; it’s a skill.
And for entrepreneurs and leaders, it’s not optional; it’s everything.
These six principles are more than ways to win friends; they’re the foundation of influence, impact, and legacy.

Next Sunday, we’ll explore how to win people to your way of thinking—without force, ego, or pressure.

What’s your likability edge?
Is there one principle from Carnegie’s list that has made a real difference in your business relationships, or one you’re working on improving?

👇 Drop your insight or story in the comments. Let’s grow together.

Buy How To Win Friends and Influence People on Amazon here.

Debbie Balfour | Real Estate Investing Success Coach + Podcast Host
📍 Website: www.DebbieBalfour.com
📧 Email: Debbie@DebbieBalfour.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Debbie Balfour
▶️ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@DebbieBalfour

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