How do you persuade people in your conversations?

2 Build rapport and trust

Persuasion is not a one-way process, but a dialogue that requires mutual respect and trust. You cannot persuade someone if they do not like you, trust you, or listen to you. Therefore, you need to establish rapport and trust with your audience, by showing genuine interest, empathy, and appreciation, and by using positive body language, eye contact, and tone of voice. You also need to demonstrate your credibility and competence, by sharing your expertise, credentials, or testimonials, and by acknowledging your limitations or weaknesses. By building rapport and trust, you can create a positive and comfortable atmosphere for your conversation, and reduce the resistance or defensiveness of your audience.

3 Use the right arguments

The arguments you use to persuade someone are the core of your message, and they need to be relevant, clear, and strong. You need to use the right arguments for the right audience, depending on their values, beliefs, and motivations. For example, some people may be more persuaded by ethical or moral arguments, while others may be more persuaded by practical or financial arguments. You also need to use the right arguments for the right situation, depending on the type and level of change you want to achieve. For example, some situations may require more emotional or inspirational arguments, while others may require more rational or factual arguments.

4 Address objections and concerns

One of the biggest challenges of persuasion is dealing with objections and concerns from your audience. These are the reasons why they may disagree with you, doubt you, or reject your proposal. You need to anticipate and address these objections and concerns, by listening actively, asking questions, and clarifying misunderstandings. You also need to acknowledge and respect their opinions, even if you do not agree with them, and avoid arguing or criticizing them. Instead, you need to provide counterarguments or alternative solutions, by using evidence, examples, or testimonials, and by highlighting the benefits or consequences of your proposal.

5 Use persuasive techniques

When crafting your message, you should consider the form and style of your communication and employ persuasive techniques to maximize your appeal. Framing is one such technique, which involves selecting words, images, or metaphors that emphasize the positive or negative aspects of your proposal. Reciprocity is another persuasive technique, which involves offering something valuable or helpful to your audience, such as a compliment, a gift, or a concession, and then asking for something in return. Additionally, utilizing social proof can be effective in persuading people to follow the behavior or opinions of others who are similar to them or have authority or expertise. Lastly, you can use the principle of scarcity to create a sense of urgency or exclusivity for your proposal by highlighting its uniqueness, availability, or deadline.

6 Follow up and follow through

The last step of persuasion is to follow up and follow through with your audience, to ensure that they take action and achieve the desired results. You need to follow up with them, by thanking them for their time and attention, summarizing the main points of your conversation, and confirming their agreement or commitment. You also need to follow through with them, by delivering on your promises, providing support or guidance, and asking for feedback or referrals. By following up and follow through, you can strengthen your relationship with your audience, reinforce your message, and increase your chances of success.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?