Hawley - Idiots Guides: People Skills

No one likes a know-it-all. Most of us realize theres no such thinghow could there be? The world is far too complicated for someone to understand everything there is to know. So when you come across a know-it-all, you smile to yourself as they ramble on because you know better.

You understand that the quest for knowledge is a never-ending one, and youre okay with that. You have no desire to know everything, just the next thing. You know what you dont know, youre confident enough to admit it, and youre motivated to do something about it.

At Idiots Guides, we, too, know what we dont know, and we make it our business to find out. We find really smart people who are experts in their fields and then we roll up our sleeves and get to work, asking lots of questions and thinking long and hard about how best to pass along their knowledge to you in the easiest, most-accessible way possible.

After all, thats our promiseto make whatever you want to learn As Easy as It Gets. That means giving you a well-organized design that seamlessly and effortlessly guides you from page to page, topic to topic. It means controlling the pace youre asked to absorb new informationnot too much at once but just what you need to know right now. It means giving you a clear progression from easy to more difficult. It means giving you more instructional steps wherever necessary to really explain the details. And it means giving you fewer words and more illustrations wherever its better to show rather than tell.

So here you are, at the start of something new. The next chapter in your quest. It can be an intimidating place to be, but youve been here before and so have we. Clear your mind and turn the page. By the end of this book, you wont be a know-it-all, but your world will be a little less complicated than it was before. And well be sure your journey is as easy as it gets.

Mike Sanders
Publisher, Idiots Guides

This book is dedicated to two women with unsurpassed people skills, Frances Anne and Frances Jean Pastore. Although their wonderful ways with both the mighty and the fallen are God-given, watching them has been the best tutorial I could have ever hoped for. They are role models for me as they transform the lives of the needy, affluent, deserving, and undeserving.

ALPHA BOOKS

Published by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

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Copyright 2014 by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

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IDIOTS GUIDES and Design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-61564-643-2
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2014938385

16 15 14 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Interpretation of the printing code: The rightmost number of the first series of numbers is the year of the books printing; the rightmost number of the second series of numbers is the number of the books printing. For example, a printing code of 14-1 shows that the first printing occurred in 2014.

Printed in the United States of America

Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering professional services in the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

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Publisher:Mike Sanders

Executive Managing Editor:Billy Fields

Executive Acquisitions Editor:Lori Cates Hand

Development Editor:Michael Thomas

Senior Production Editor:Janette Lynn

Cover Designer:Laura Merriman

Book Designer:William Thomas

Indexer:Tonya Heard

Layout:Ayanna Lacey

Proofreader:Tricia Liebig

Introduction

Would you like to know the secrets of making a great first impression, attracting the right people into your life, and building lifetime friendships that are rewarding and enjoyable? Idiots Guides: People Skills takes you from the most basic one-on-one exchange of communication to the ability to handle large groups of people with ease. You will learn to appreciate the personality styles of the varied people you meet and, more importantly, learn to adapt your style to theirs so you build better, more durable relationships.

The study of people skills is perhaps the most beneficial study you will ever undertake because every day offers opportunities to use these new relationship skills. And every person you encounter, whether challenging or charming, offers you the opportunity to learn something from them and to benefit from having known them. Expanding your circle of friends can bring you more joy and more support for the other areas of your life.