The art of persuasion is an important skill to master because it can help you in many situations. At work, at home or in your social life, the ability to persuade and influence others can help you achieve your goals and be happier. Learning different methods of persuasion can help you detect when someone is trying to apply them to you. You. The biggest benefit of mastering persuasion techniques is that it saves you money once you realize that salespeople and advertising are selling products you don't need. Here are some persuasion techniques that can be done on a subconscious level:
Step
Step 1. Use reformulation to influence the minds of others
People who are pessimistic will see "The glass is half empty". Formulation is a simple way to change how one sorts, categorizes, associates and ultimately gives meaning to certain events, objects or behaviors.
- The headline titled “Police Surround Home of Heretical Leader” creates a very different mental image than “Police Raid Religious Gathering of Women and Children.” Both titles may be accurate, but the words used alter the perceptions and feelings they evoke and with thereby changing the meaning one would give to the event.
- This formulation technique is often used by astute politicians. For example, politicians (regardless of their views on abortion) position themselves as “pro life” or “pro choice” because “pro” has a better connotation than “anti”. Formulation techniques use subtly emotional words to manipulate your point of view.
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To convey a persuasive argument, choose words that can create an image (positive, negative or neutral) in the minds of the audience. Even if you're surrounded by other words, changing just one word can still produce effective results.
For example, consider the difference between “Having a phone will keep me out of trouble” and “Having a phone will keep me safe”. Think about which words are more effective in conveying your message: “problem” or “safe”
Step 2. Use the reflection technique
Reflection techniques allow you to imitate the movements and body language of the person you are trying to persuade. By adopting the same behavior, you create a sense of empathy.
- You can imitate hand movements, leaning back and forth, or various head and arm movements. We all do it subconsciously, and if you pay close attention, you probably do too.
- Do it gently and wait 2-4 seconds before you imitate the other person's movements. The reflection technique is also called the "chameleon effect".
Step 3. Emphasize the rarity of something
Scarcity is often used by advertisers to make opportunities more attractive because supplies are limited. A scarce commodity gives rise to the assumption that there is a lot of demand for the product! (Buy now or you will run out).
Realize that you are often faced with these kinds of persuasion techniques and consider them before you decide to buy
Step 4. Use reciprocity to create obligations
When someone does something for us, we usually feel obligated to return the favor. So, if you want someone to do something nice for you, why don't you do the same first?
- In the professional world, you can provide opportunities for colleagues to lead projects.
- In personal life, you can lend a blender to a neighbor.
- It doesn't matter where and when you do it, what matters is the impact it has on your relationship.
Step 5. Use the time to your advantage
People generally tend to be agreeable and submissive when experiencing mental exhaustion. Before asking someone to do something they don't want to do, wait until they've just done something mind-boggling, like during office hours when a new coworker is about to step out. Whatever your request, he will most likely respond "I'll take care of it tomorrow."
Step 6. Use suitability to get the desired result
We all try, subconsciously, to behave consistently. The technique salespeople use is to shake hands while trying to negotiate. In our minds, shaking hands means an agreement has been reached, and by shaking hands before entering into any deal, the salesperson has a great chance of selling his product.
You can adopt this technique to get people to act before making a decision. For example, if you're spending time with a friend and want to go see a movie, but the friend still hasn't decided whether or not to come, you can walk to the cinema while he or she thinks about it. Your friend will likely agree to watch once he or she joins in the direction you set
Step 7. Use flowing language
When speaking, we often use a few interjections and expressions of doubt, such as "hmmm" or "this" and of course "like" which are found everywhere. These conversation fillers have the unintended effect of making us less confident and less convincing and thus less persuasive. If you are sure of what you are saying, other people will be more easily persuaded.
Step 8. Use herd behavior to influence decisions
We often observe others before taking action. We have a need to be accepted. Therefore, we tend to follow or be persuaded by people we like or people in authority.
- One way to take advantage of this tendency is to position yourself as a leader (even if you don't have an official title).
- If you are charming and confident, people will take your opinion seriously.
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If you're dealing with people who don't care about your authority (such as your boss at work, or your in-laws) you can still use herd behavior to your advantage.
- Give compliments casually to someone they admire.
- Stimulating positive thoughts about the person they admire can lead them to associate the qualities that that person has with you.
Step 9. Buy or borrow an animal that is considered man's best friend
To give the impression that you're a loyal person, and to persuade people to be loyal to you, post a photo of you with a dog (no need for your own dog). This will make you perceived as a cooperative person, but don't overdo it. Posting too many photos can make you feel unprofessional.
Step 10. Offer a drink
Provide a warm drink (tea, coffee, hot chocolate) for the person you want to reassure so he can enjoy it while you talk. The warm sensation of a drink in their hands (and inside their bodies) can subconsciously make them feel emotionally warm, pleasant and friendly. Giving cold drinks will have the opposite effect! In general, people tend to feel cold and crave warm food or drinks when they feel isolated. So, meet those needs to make them more receptive.
Step 11. Ask questions that give a positive answer. Start the conversation with a question that elicits a positive response, for example, “It's a sunny day, isn't it?
“You were looking for a cheap car, right?”
- After getting a positive response, it will be easier to convince them to buy the product or service that you offer.
- The best way to counter this technique is to give the speaker a neutral answer, but make sure your wife knows WHY you don't think she looks attractive today.
Step 12. Break the touch barriers
Whether you want to sell something or ask someone out on a date, giving touch (in a gentle and polite way) can increase your chances because touch subconsciously activates the human need for closeness.
- In a professional setting, it's best to verbally “touch” someone with reassurance or praise because physical touch can be considered sexual harassment.
- In the romantic sphere, a woman's gentle touch is usually well received. Men have to wait to get to know her better so as not to make her feel uncomfortable.
Tips
- Don't press them! Try contacting them again after a week or two.
- When you talk to someone, make them as comfortable as possible. If he feels close to you, chances are he will listen to what you have to say.
- There are things you can do to appear more dominant, such as wearing exclusive black clothes (as some judges and priests wear) or displaying a neutral expression, but in some situations being dominant (or neutral) isn't always convincing. If you're a salesperson, you can choose to get closer to a potential customer instead of trying to intimidate them. However, if you are a supervisor, giving a dominant impression will make it easier for you to get what you want.
- Know when to give up. Sometimes, humans turn out to be the most stubborn creatures, and sometimes some people don't like other people.
- If you promise to reward him, make a written contract, and make sure a trusted third party signs it. This will ensure that he knows that you mean your word.
- Use the same techniques you fear the salesperson will turn the tables on and intimidate them. For example, if you want to buy a car, make sure you lead the conversation. Ask questions you know the answer to, such as “So, car sales are going down, huh?” and “Gee, I think you need to replace the older models soon.” This action will make the seller try harder to sell the product. Remind them that the market conditions are not favorable, without needing to say it explicitly.
- Give your opinion about the situation he is in. For example, if someone says that he recently discovered that he has a hidden talent for predicting the future, tell him in detail how you first discovered your psychic abilities and were terrified. If he doesn't want to share the story at first, give him a few days. Then, use the example of authority figures (famous psychics). Get back to the person to see if he or she has opened up now and would like to share a little story with you. Doing so gradually can persuade people to be more open.
- Don't underestimate the person you want to convince. It's better to have a good understanding of the person than to try to get them to understand you. If you demonstrate an ability to listen and understand, you're showing a desire to put her interests first and not waste her (and you) time.
- Try to make him think, “This is what I want.” This will make it easier for you to convince him to do what you want.
Warning
- Don't talk too fast. You have to appear convincing, but if you use this technique in a hurry, you won't get the effect you want.
- Once someone realizes they are being manipulated, they will feel very uncomfortable around you. Think about how you hate certain marketing techniques (such as the hard sell), or passive-aggressive family members.
- Don't be too loud or use inappropriate language in your message.
- Use this persuasion technique with caution with your friends. Sometimes, decisions have to be made and you can try to convince them to believe what you have to offer. However, if you do this too often, people may interpret your behavior as overly powerful, or manipulative, which can have unintended consequences.
- If you ask for too much, the deal may not be reached. You may not be sure you'll get a deal, but there's a small chance he will. Also, keep him as comfortable as possible for a long time and make requests when he's happy. If you make a request when he's sad, he may get angry.
- Don't try to convince people to do something against their own well-being or interests.
