The Art of Dealing With People

“ The reason 90% of people fail in life is a failure to deal successfully with people. ” e.style.display='none');if(typeof getContentsSections==='function')setTimeout(getContentsSections,50)" /> Brains aren't the bottleneck. Giblin cites studies showing that learning to deal with people accounts for 85% of success in any profession and roughly 99% of personal happiness. The most successful people you know likely aren't the smartest — they simply have "a way" with others. Both the shy and the bossy fail. The shy person thinks their problem is personality when it's really a people-skills deficit

Lesson 1: Difficult people are ego-starved, not ego-inflated

This principle from The Art of Dealing With People is backed by Les Giblin's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 2: Pay five daily compliments — praise the act, not the person

This principle from The Art of Dealing With People is backed by Les Giblin's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

How to Apply The Art of Dealing With People's Lessons

The real value of The Art of Dealing With People lies in its applicability. After reading, the most important step is identifying which of Les Giblin's principles speak most directly to your current situation.

Consider keeping a journal while reading — noting where the ideas challenge your current approach and where they confirm what you already suspected. The friction of your own resistance often points to the most important insights.

Key Quote

"Difficult people are ego-starved, not ego-inflated" — Les Giblin, The Art of Dealing With People

About the Author

Les Giblin is the author of The Art of Dealing With People. The book reflects years of research, observation, and synthesis of evidence from multiple disciplines.