Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
Make the other person feel important--and do it sincerely.
Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view.
Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
Get the other person saying "yes, yes" immediately.
Arouse in the other person an eager want.
How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking
Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say, "You're wrong."
Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.
Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
Become genuinely interested in other people.
If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment
Praise the slightest improvement. Be "hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise."
Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires.
Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.