Dale Carnegie knew that one of the most effective ways of winning over people was to make them feel important.
In his book, How to Develop Self Confidence & Influence People by Public Speaking, he tells the story of Claude Marais, a restaurant owner in Rouen, France, who used this principle and saved his restaurant the loss of a key employee.
A woman, named Paulette, had been in his employ for five years and was a vital link between Marais and his staff of twenty-one people. When she submitted her resignation, he was shocked. Marais felt he had been fair to Paulette and receptive to her needs. He also surmised that as she was a friend as well as an employee, he probably had taken too much for granted and maybe was more demanding of her than of other employees.
Marais needed an explanation for the resignation and took Paulette aside one day, saying, “Paulette, you must understand that I cannot accept your resignation. You mean a great deal to me and to this company, and you are as important to the success of this restaurant as I am.” He repeated this in front of the entire staff, and he invited her to his home to reiterate his confidence in her with his family present.
Paulette withdrew her resignation and from that day forward Marais frequently reinforced his appreciation for what she did and showed her how important she was both to him and the restaurant.