15 tricks to convince better
1. Before asking a favor or start a painful conversation, smile and praise the caller. Just try not to overdo the dose, it will sound artificial.
2. Imitate gestures, facial and verbal expressions of the people whom you are talking to. Research demonstrates that copying the conversation partner, without playing the mimic (of course), increases the chance of persuading him.
3. Bring vacation souvenirs, enjoy a status on Facebook, offer a ride ... Gifts and Favors create a need for repay the kindness.
4. In a discussion with a chief interlocutor or a people difficult to handle, enter your objections pretending to accept his proposals. Example: "I agree with that, but we also need to consider ...".
5. Look for elements in common, like the football team, musical preference, name and origin, to establish greater intimacy. The affinity ensures more success for requests and discussions.
6. If you want to convince someone that X surpasses Y, point of the X qualities, but above all highlight the defects of Y. There is evidence that our brains better guard negative aspects of a person or product.
7. When defending a thesis, do not waste time enumerating thousands of arguments. Keep focus and give subsidies to the major. This avoids the impression that you have superficial knowledge of the subject.
8. NEVER use expressions like "hmm ...", "let me see ..." and any other that might denote uncertainty and hesitation. The fluidity of speech is important to bring credibility.
9. Always give reasons for your arguments. For example: you increase your chances of being succeed when you say "Can I get ahead because I'm in a hurry and my wife is in the car?") than if you simply ask ("Can I go ahead? I`m in a hurry!").
10. In a discussion, always put yourself as superior or use privileged information forum. Examples: "My teacher, who is a PHD said..." or "So, when i was in London I saw...".
11. Never go into a discussion when you are tired. The brain takes a lot of energy and when you get tired, multiplies the risk of tangle and give in.
12. If you really want to convince someone to do something, be sure to seal the commitment in writing. There is evidence of that commitment through an e-mail or ticket has a greater chance of being fulfilled.
13. If you want to ask for a favor and suspect that the other people will refuse, start asking for something harder. Example: If you need $ 10, start asking for $ 30. If the caller refuses, you question if he can not have at least $ 10. Doing this you get a higher chance of turning a rejection into a "yes."
14. Appearance matters. Research indicates that the way you dress and the adequacy context raise the confidence in who gives the speech.
15. In more complex discussions, learn from the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer: try to expand or generalize the ideas of the other to find loopholes or to invalidate them. Besides that, try to make him agree with each of your arguments before you cast off. This tactic forces him to accept your conclusion.
(via galileu)