How to Persuade & Influence People
Since success often depends on your networking abilities and people skills, sharpening them will positively impact both your professional and personal life. Knowing how to persuade and influence people opens to the door to rewarding opportunities. Gain the confidence necessary to present the solid arguments that entice people to accept your proposals.
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Instructions
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Hone your verbal communication skills. While you don't have to be an eloquent wordsmith, presenting coherent ideas is essential. Use dynamic language that inspires people to take notice. Modify your pitch, loudness and speaking rate to evoke different moods. Never use words that you don't understand, or that you have trouble pronouncing correctly. Motivate people to trust you by speaking with accuracy, sincerity and confidence.
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Perfect your body language cues. Eliminate negative posturing, as it can harm your chances even if your actual words inspire positive feelings. Negative habits include actions such as avoiding eye contact, keeping your body rigid, and frowning. Practice your speaking skills during both business and personal exchanges. Ask for feedback from trusted peers to ensure you're on the right path.
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Exude confidence without coming across as arrogant. Exhibiting too much confidence can inspire unpleasant feelings in others. This makes people less likely to want to please you, or to even listen to your ideas. Model your behavior after successful peers to avoid becoming just another colleague with a "slick tongue."
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Present rational ideas and arguments. Anticipate likely objections from those skeptical of your motives. Formulate candid responses to the questions to avoid being caught off guard. Meet resistance with calmness; this helps alleviate doubt and fosters confidence in your ideas.
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Lay the groundwork for a passionate following. People are more likely to comply when their path is already prepared. Ask people to complete specific actions, while giving them relevant incentives for compliance. Choose suitable rewards based on past experiences and current relationships with others.
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Make targeted appeals. Varying your approach can yield more favorable results than treating everyone the same. Persuading others may even require you to use guilt to bait your subjects into submission. Take care when playing the sympathy card, as laying it on too thick can make you appear unethical.
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Tips & Warnings
Reel people in with a handshake and a smile. Showing genuine appreciation for others and their contributions can inspire them to help you.
Avoid begging for assistance, as this can lead to frustrated associates.
