Persuasion is a very useful skill for a person to acquire. Very often, people think negatively about this word and consider it as a form of manipulation. However, its not true, and to understand what persuasion is, keep reading the article. Besides, we will tell you about how to become more persuasive in your everyday life.
What Is Persuasion?
This is a communication strategy aimed at convincing people to change their point of view, do something you suggest, and make them adjust their beliefs. Many people confuse it with manipulation; however, persuasion has a completely different meaning.
Whereas manipulation has a negative connotation and is related to an attempt to influence people in your own interests and advantage, persuasion is a completely positive notion. Its more about presenting your arguments to change your audiences attitude, beliefs, and ideas.
The skill of persuasion can be used in your personal and professional life. Once you master it, you will fully benefit from your ability to persuade other people when you need it.
Why You Should Acquire This Skill
If you are wondering why you need to get this skill, then the answer will be pretty simple. A successful person will have to face a situation at some point when there is a need to convince another person and make them believe what you believe. If you want to become that person, then this skill is a must for you.
For example, the skill of persuasion is crucial for any person who works in sales and motivates people to purchase goods or services. Artists and politicians also use the skill of conviction. Moreover, it can be used by any of us in our daily lives. It can help us persuade our family, friends, loved ones, colleagues, and all people around us to do something we suggest. With this important skill, it will be easier for you to get what you want.
How to Become More Persuasive
Here are some very effective tips that will help you become a great persuader. Check it out and implement it in your daily life to see some positive changes.
Prepare an Introduction
In case you know a person or a group of people, it will be much easier for you to convince them. You know their values, beliefs, preferences, and you can use this information while presenting your arguments. However, in case this is a complete stranger to you, it already becomes a challenge.
To effectively persuade another person you dont know, it will be important to prepare a strong introduction. It will help you make a positive first impression and create a sense of authority to start convincing a person.
Prepare Arguments
The first thing you should do before starting any discussion is to prepare arguments. It is an integral winning tactic that will certainly help you. Try to be clear and concise with your thoughts. Take your time, do some thinking, and even do research if its needed to make your arguments more solid.
Before you try to convince another person, you have to persuade yourself first. If you think that your arguments are strong enough, then you can give it a try and do all your best to change other peoples opinions and prove your own point of view.
Be an Active Listener
If you believe that you can persuade a person by only speaking yourself, you are mistaken. Its crucial to be an active listener if you want to win this battle. Give your companion your full attention and listen carefully to what they are saying.
You will be able to understand their point of view better and determine the attitude to what you are saying to use it in the future. Keep eye contact, and repeat their name regularly. It will demonstrate that you respect them and their opinion, and they will be more likely to adopt your point of view, given the powerful arguments.
It will be very important to accept another point of view. Dont disagree with your partner right away. Give them time to express all their thoughts and demonstrate agreement with some of them. If you disagree with everything a person is telling you, they will be much more likely to dismiss all your arguments and examples. Stay an open-minded person, even if you are truly convinced in what you are saying. It will increase your chances of making another person change their position.
Be Persistent
Dont give up too early. Stay persistent in this discussion. Not everyone will agree with you in the very first minute. You will have to work hard to express all your thoughts and beliefs and make other people change their point of view. Support all your ideas and keep insisting on your opinion. Eventually, you will be able to convince people that you are right.
Use Correct Body Language
There exists verbal and nonverbal communication. Whereas verbal communication is everything you say, nonverbal communication is what your body says to other people. Its as paramount as the set of arguments you present. Be aware of your gestures and facial expressions.
Ensure that you use positive body language, and you dont use any aggressive gestures that might do the opposite to persuading people. Dont cross your arms. You should keep eye contact, make your gestures calm, and lean towards the person you are speaking to. Another great trick you should try out is mirroring the posture and gesture of a person you are talking to. And, of course, dont forget to smile.
Show Empathy
Being empathic is also paramount during any discussion, especially if your goal is to persuade. Showing empathy is important as you are trying to solve another persons problems. By putting yourself in their shoes, you will gain more trust, respect and people will be more likely to adopt your point of view. If you try to understand their pain points and how badly they feel, you will build a powerful connection that is an integral part of the persuasion process.
Play with Your Voice
Your tone of voice also matters. It has to be peaceful and calm. A great trick will be to change the volume of your voice in correspondence with the volume of the voice of a person you are communicating with. If a person has a soft voice, make it sound the same and, God forbid, dont scream at them. If their voice is loud, then make it sound the same too. Changing the voice speed is also important. Make it similar to other people, but dont be too slow or too quick. Adjust your voice pace according to the situation.
Use Emotional Language Wisely
Considering that your main goal is to persuade people, you might be tempted to use expressive language to enhance your argument. Dont try too hard, though. Words like amazing, perfect, outstanding are already powerful, so excessive use might even weaken your speech.
It will be recommended to focus more on practical examples that strengthen your arguments. If your idea is worth attention, people will understand it themselves. So your job is to provide an extensive and deep demonstration of the benefits your thought might bring to life.
Be Confident
Confidence is always the key. If you aim to persuade other people, you have to truly believe in what you say, and sound/feel as certain as possible. Show maximum confidence in every word you say to your opponent. There is nothing more attractive and compelling than certainty. Stay calm, believe in every argument, and you will get what you want for sure.
Get Professional Help
Therapy is not just the perfect way to cope with mental and emotional issues. It is also a perfect way to learn more about yourself and discover your hidden potential. By getting professional help, you will be able to communicate with a specialist who knows how to influence other people. A therapist will help you find your hidden strength of being persuasive, as well as they will teach you how to become a person that can convince everyone.
If you think that you cannot go for in-person sessions as you lack time, online therapy is a perfect growing-in-demand alternative. It is the most convenient and affordable way to connect with the best therapists from all over the country. You will be able to get your session at any appropriate time from any device you want.
Its possible to communicate with a therapist via:
- Instant text messages;
- Scheduled phone call session;
- Scheduled video call session.
Here, at Calmerry, we have a wide range of mental health professionals who can support you and let you know yourself better. You can sign up now to start improving yourself today. Dont hesitate to learn more about our services to become a better version of yourself.
Summing It Up
As you can see, persuasion can be a great skill you should also work on. It will help you influence other people in a positive way.
Here are some important things from this article you should remember:
- People often think that persuasion is the same as manipulation, though these are two different notions.
- In fact, persuasion is a useful skill that would be great to acquire.
- There are some effective ways that can help you become persuasive and easily convince people or change their beliefs.
Whether its a lack of persuasion skills or any other emotional or mental problem, we are here to help you with any of your issues. Dont hesitate to contact us and discuss what bothers you.
Kate has a B.S. in Psychology and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and has worked in healthcare since 2017. She primarily treated depression, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma, and grief, as well as identity, relationship and adjustment issues. Her clinical experience has focused on individual and group counseling, emergency counseling and outreach.
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