How to Be More Persuasive: Tips for Convincing Others
When it comes to getting others to take on your ideas, there are certain tactics that can help you be more persuasive, so you can have the greatest chance of getting others to go along with your line of thinking. Being persuasive is an art, and like any art, it takes practice. Read on to get some useful tips for convincing others and the art of persuasion.
What is Persuasion?
Persuasion can be defined as the process of influencing people by presenting facts and arguments to get them to accept an opinion or action. It can be used to convince someone to take an action, to agree with an idea, or to gain someone’s trust or acceptance. It is a skill that can be used in business, social interactions, and even with family and friends.
Understand Your Audience
The most important and initial step in convincing anyone is to understand who you are speaking to. Knowing the characteristics of your audience and their values, beliefs and existing opinions is the first step towards crafting your persuasive argument. Pay attention and learn as much as you can about their beliefs to effectively convince them.
Identify Their Needs
Another important step to help you be more persuasive is to identify what their needs and motivations are. To be truly persuasive, you must understand why a certain decision or opinion is important to them. Knowing what will gain their attention and what they need to be convinced can be a powerful tool when attempting to persuade them.
Excite Them
If you can get your audience excited, they are more likely to be persuaded by your argument. Often times, the most effective way to do this is to start by creating an emotional connection with them. Start by telling a story and make them feel a certain emotion. This will help draw them in and make them more likely to accept your proposal.
Make It Easy For Them
Make it easy for your audience to accept your proposal by giving them an easy way to say “yes.” Simplify the argument by breaking it down into manageable steps or components. As you lead them through the argument, focus on outlining the positive aspects of your plan and emphasize how it can benefit them.
Explain Benefits
Explain the benefits of your argument clearly and succinctly. Tell them in plain language how your suggestion will affect them and what they can expect to gain. Rationally explain why this would be the best decision and why it is the most beneficial way to go.
Make It Personal
Make your argument more personal. If you can, tell a story or anecdote that your audience can relate to which will help convince them. Demonstrating why this is important to you personally and using a personal connection that they can relate to will make them more likely to agree with your suggestion.
Provide Evidence
Provide evidence to support your argument. Present research and data that demonstrate why your plan is the best way to go. This will help to present your case in a rational and logical manner which will be more convincing to your audience.
Draw It Out
A good way to be more persuasive is to draw out the argument and lead your audience step by step towards your conclusion. Present each point of your argument one at a time and let them come to the conclusion themselves.If you present all of the facts in a cohesive manner they will be more likely to take your side.
Involve Them
Involve your audience in the argument by actively engaging them and asking them questions. Ask for their thoughts on the matter and incorporate their ideas into your argument. This will help to make your proposal more personal and will give them a sense that their input is valued and appreciated.
Be Confident
Confidence will help you be more persuasive. Exude confidence when presenting your argument by speaking clearly and presenting your facts in an organized and concise manner. This will make your argument more credible and more likely to be accepted.
Practice
As with any skill, the more you practice the better you will become. Take time to practice the art of persuasion and get feedback from others on how you can improve. With practice, you will be able to craft a more convincing argument and be able to better identify what is needed to persuade your audience.
Being persuasive is an important skill to have to be able to influence others and get them to go along with your ideas and opinions. There are certain tactics that can help you become more persuasive, such as understanding your audience and their needs, exciting them, making your argument personal, and providing evidence to support your argument. With practice and focus, you will be able to become a more persuasive speaker and have a greater chance of convincing others.
