Persuasion is social skill that can enhance your life in so many ways. When you understand how to persuade people, you are able to get the jobs that you want, get people to invest in your ideas, and build relationships with some very influential people who can help you on your journey to success. Learning how to persuade people and crowds can help you win elections, and can help you become a powerful leader. When you can get the right people on your side, you increase your chances of success in your career and in other areas of your life.
All Great leaders know how to persuade people, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Bill Clinton. Some people are born great persuaders, and some learn it through experience and the willingness to change. The art of persuasion can be learned by anyone willing to invest the time in learning the craft. Below are 10 things that can make you highly persuasive.
1. Mirroring behavior
Persuasive people know who they are dealing with. They can relate to someone through mirroring their behavior. If they are dealing with someone who is very high-energy and assertive, they amp up their actions and tone to meet the other person’s body language. If they are dealing with someone who is shy and reserved, they tone down their body language. Mirroring the other person is a great way to make them feel more relaxed and comfortable with you. When someone feel is though they can relate to you through the subtleties of your body language, they are more prone to be receptive to you.
Read more: Great Speakers And Presenters Do These 9 Things
2. Personal connections
People are a lot more receptive to you and are more obliged to agree with you when you can connect with them on a deeper level than just back and forth conversation. Learn to tell relatable stories that may bring any emotional responses from the person you are talking with. Also, share a little bit about yourself and connect on an emotional level in some way. Without any emotional connection, the other person will be weary of everything that you say.
3. Assertive but patient
Being assertive and confident is a great trait that will help you in being persuasive, but if you are too aggressive, it is a turn off. You need to focus on being calm and confident, and never try to argue your point. Just state your position on any matter and let the opposing person state theirs. Don’t criticize too much or be pushy in getting them to agree with your position. Acknowledge their position and if your idea or position is truly one people cannot look away from, give them time. They will come around to see your side of things if you are not overly persistent.
4. Being confident and not shy to relay ideas
Being overly assertive is a turn-off, but so is being too shy and unconfident. When you come across as shy and afraid to relay your position, the tone of your voice and body language will show just how unconfident in your ideas you are. If you are unconfident in yourself and your own ideas, how can someone else be confident in you? Never present your ideas to anyone as if they need approval.
5. Using positive body language
You can draw people in with the tone of your voice and body language. Having the correct tone of voice and body language will open people up to your ideas. Have passion and enthusiasm in the tone of your voice, unfold your arms, and look them in the eyes. The tone of your voice will portray confidence, the unfolding of your arms will make them feel more at ease, and looking them in the eyes will make them feel as though they have your undivided attention. Use the correct body language and you will become more persuasive.
6. Clear and concise communication
If you want to be more persuasive, you must be able to communicate your ideas in a way they people will understand. You have to be completely clear and have a complete understanding in your own ideas. When you have an understanding, you are able to get your ideas across quickly and effectively.
7. Being Genuine
Find out who you truly are and what truly interests you. Never try to be someone you are not because people can see right through you. When you follow what you truly connect with and are honest with who you are, people will feel more at ease with your presence because they get the feeling that they can trust you and your ideas. Focus on what makes you happy and you will naturally become more interesting.
8. Focus on the conversation
When people are engaged with someone else, most of the time they are not fully understanding and hearing what the other person is saying because they are too busy thinking about what they are going to say next. When you focus on the conversation, you can come up with some really good questions to make the other person think about what they are saying, and to make it seem as though you are truly interested in what they have to say. When people feel as though that you have taken a genuine interest in them, they are much more receptive to you.
9. Use people’s names
Highly persuasive people always use the person’s they are talking to name while talking to them, and they also address people by name when they greet them. People’s favorite words are their names and when someone has taken the time to remember your name, you feel more validated.
10. Smile when the time is right
Smiling makes you more likable and approachable. Smiling at someone else as you greet them, or in a conversation, makes them feel good. Don’t smile all the time because this will make you seem creepy and turn people off. Learn to smile at the right time when you greet someone, or in a conversation, and you will become more persuasive.
Read more: 5 Ways People Ruin Their Story Telling Potential
Take Away
Persuasion is a skill that can take you and your life to the next level of success. The good thing about persuasion is that it can be learned. Here is a re-cap of the 10 things you could do to enhance your persuasion skills.
- Mirror others behavior. Be less or more assertive based on the other persons persona
- Connect emotionally on some level with the other person
- Be assertive but not overly aggressive
- Don’t be shy, be confident
- Use positive body language
- Understand your ideas clearly and communicate effectively
- Be genuine
- Focus on the conversation
- Use people’s names
- Smile when the time is right
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