4 Easy Steps to Become More Persuasive

How to be more persuasive? 

The ability to persuade is one of the most important skills in business.  This is because persuasiveness makes it possible to exercise influence over negotiations and transactions.  For example, the more a manager can persuade subordinates, the more subordinates will conform to an organizational mission.  The more sales representatives can persuade potential clients, the likelier a company will gain revenue and customer loyalty.  In this sense, persuasion is the very lifeblood of business itself.  But what is the best way to become persuasive?  Is it a matter of oozing charisma and charm?  Or is it a technical skill which can be sharpened through practice?  The answer is – a little bit of both.  Persuasion is an art form which necessitates endearing oneself to other people during interaction.  

Here’s how to accomplish this in four easy steps:

1) Build Credibility

The only way to successfully persuade someone is to win their trust.  That means you have to demonstrate a sincere capacity to act in their best interests, regardless of what you’re trying to persuade them about.  The easiest way to do this is to be honorable.  Show your audience that you are committed to their welfare, and that they have nothing to lose from trusting you.

2) Be Reasonable

As long as trust is a component of persuasiveness, this creates a requirement for logic in your interactions.  The more you can use data, evidence and facts to create a rational argument, the less reason your audience has to be doubtful of your message.  Not only does being logical bolster your claims, it also enhances your authority.

3) Understand Emotion

People will often forget the many things you have to say, but they will seldom ever forget how you make them feel.  One of the most important things you can do to become a persuasive person is to develop a strong intuition for emotional intelligence.  Don’t just interact with people on a fundamental level, discern their emotions, anticipate their needs, and modify your expression in a way that fosters comfort.

4) Tell Stories

The more complicated a concept is, the harder it is to explain to people, let alone to persuade acceptance.  This is because human beings instinctively have fleeting attention spans.  Always use metaphors and analogies in a way that familiarizes your message to an audience.  As long as you can deconstruct complex ideas into basic narratives, your persuasiveness will be heightened by making your message both memorable and shareable.

Conclusion

Persuasiveness is all about finding a delicate balance between connecting with people, and communicating with them.  If you focus too much on conveying a message, you will either lose your audience to distraction, or push them away with too much information.  On the other hand, if you concentrate too much on developing a connection, your message might not be taken seriously or your expectations will be met sub-optimally.  If you’re trying to persuade, figure out a way to be alluring yet instructive, and never lose sight of your objectives as you engage with the people you’re trying to persuade. For business development coaching by Richard Martinez, call at 626-202-2291 or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.