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The Platinum Rule
Book

The Platinum Rule

Discover the Four Basic Business Personalities - And How They Can Lead You to Success

Tony Alessandra and Michael J. O'Connor
Grand Central, 1998

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Do you struggle to gain your co-workers’ cooperation on projects? When you pitch a great new idea, do some of your colleagues seem indifferent or unreceptive? The problem may be a personality clash, and Tony Alessandra and Michael J. O’Connor show you how to resolve it. First, learn to identify the four basic business personalities: “Directors, Socializers, Relaters and Thinkers.” Then, modify your behavior to accommodate each type. As you learn the strengths of the different personality types, you can use them to increase your team’s effectiveness. Being aware of each type’s weaknesses helps you mentor others toward greater success. getAbstract recommends this practical book to managers, and to anyone who wants to learn how to understand and motivate people. The authors include a section on how to apply “The Platinum Rule” to selling, which also makes the book useful for salespeople.

Take-Aways

  • Applying “The Platinum Rule” involves recognizing and respecting that people are different from you, and treating them how they prefer to be treated.
  • People are either “Directors, Socializers, Relaters or Thinkers,” or a blend of these personality types.
  • Become a people-watcher so you can understand the differences in personality styles and use them to everybody’s mutual advantage.

About the Authors

Tony Alessandra, Ph.D., is the author of The Art of Managing People, Selling by Objectives and The Idea-a-Day Guide to Super Selling and Customer Service. Michael J. O'Connor, Ph.D., co-wrote Managing by Values and People Smart in Business.

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