We would all love to be able to get people to cooperate, and do what we would like us to do but that’s not always possible- or is it? Learn habits and techniques that persuade people to do almost anything and how to use those techniques every day.
There are people who can talk anyone into anything. These are called highly persuasive people. You might think this is a talent that people are born with, but you can learn how to do it and be a highly persuasive person yourself. Join SpiritualBlossom to learn the secrets persuasive people know. Find out what persuasion is and why it's important. Find out who it benefits and then some simple persuasive skills. After you learn about these skills, learn exactly how to use them. Maybe you're not the most persuasive person in town, but you can learn to be. Read on to get started.
What is Persuasion?
“Persuasion is often more effectual than force.”- Aesop
Persuasion means getting someone to do something by talking them into it. You might ask them to do so in a specific way, or give them reasons why it's a good idea. However you do it, you make them somehow believe that doing what you ask is the right thing to do. Some people say that convincing people to do something is different than persuading them, although the terms are used interchangeably. When you convince someone of something, you make them believe in it. Persuasion means you actually get them to do it.
Some people say persuasion is just another form of manipulation, but it’s not. Manipulation means that you force people to do things against their will or you persuade them by dishonest reasons, and they would never have done it in the first place if they knew the truth. Persuasion is used by salespeople, supervisors, team members and coaches, parents, teachers, and even friends. Anytime you talk somebody into doing something, you persuade them. Persuasion is one skill leaders need, but it’s not the only one. Find out more leadership skills here: Essential Skills for Today’s Leaders
Why Be Persuasive?
“ Influence is just persuasion in slow motion.”- Robert McKee
There is only one reason to be persuasive. To get people to do things. When you want somebody to do something, no matter what it is, sometimes you just have to ask them nicely once and they automatically do it. Other people need some convincing. You have to give them reasons why they should do it. Some people are more resistant than others, and convincing them might take a little bit longer. You have to figure out what you think will convince them, and then do it. Some of the most effective leaders and helpers in the world have been highly persuasive people.
Shirley Temple Black became known at a young age for her charm and beauty as an actress and singer. In the 1930s she became famous for her perfect blonde ringlet hair, spunky personality, tap dancing, and adorable acting. By the time she was an adult, however, it became obvious that she was more than just a pretty face. She was smart, capable, and had the ability to talk people into doing things they wouldn't normally be interested in doing. She did this through being respectful, quiet when she knew words would not help, and not verbally attacking when she very well could have. Read the astonishing timeline of the extensive career from acting to government she had here: Full History Of Shirley Temple In Timeline From 1928 - Popular Timelines
Who Does Persuasion Benefit?
“ I can be pretty persuasive if I believe in something strongly enough.”- Rashida Jones
Persuasion is supposed to benefit everyone. If it's manipulation, it only benefits the person who is doing the persuading. To be truly persuasive, what you are suggesting be done should benefit everyone involved. If you're trying to mediate a dispute, your suggested solutions should benefit both people involved. If you are a parent, trying to persuade your kids to do something, it shouldn't just benefit you, but it should also benefit the kids. If you're trying to convince your significant other to do something, it should benefit both of you. If you are a supervisor trying to persuade your employees to do something, it should benefit them as well as you.
Too many times, people aren't actually trying to be persuasive for the benefit of everyone involved, but they're trying to be manipulative so that people will do things for them alone. It is much easier to persuade people to do things if you can show them how it benefits them, and not through threats. Of course people will do things if you threaten to punish them if they don't, but they will lose trust in you and find ways to get rid of you as soon as possible. Showing how your suggestions are the best ones will be the simplest way to persuade people to do things. One Zodiac sign that will write you off immediately if they feel like you are threatening them is Libra, and you can read more about that Zodiac sign here: Libra Traits and Love Compatibility
Persuasive Skills
“ The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity.”- Zig Ziglar
There are four basic ways to be persuasive, and the most persuasive thing to do is to combine them all. You can be persuasive with your words by talking to people, or you can be persuasive with the written word. You can be persuasive with your body language, and you can be persuasive just leading by example.
Speech
Persuasive speech includes not only the words we say, but tones of voice we use. Yelling at people can get their attention, but a lot of people will tune you out if they feel like you're screaming at them. Likewise, if you use a harsh or angry tone of voice, it can be more difficult to persuade people. Threatening words such as, “You better do what I say or else” are not a good way to persuade people. Using language or words that people find offensive or another way that you can be non persuasive. However, using words that they find pleasant will make people more likely to listen to you and it will be easier to persuade them.
Writing
The written word gets your message out to people who you are not in the presence of. Worldwide literacy rates are fairly high. It is estimated that 86% of people worldwide over the age of 15 can read. That means it is possible for you to persuade over 80% of the world of things through writing. Letters, social media, books, newspapers, magazines, flyers, and ads are different ways to use writing to be persuasive. Even a handwritten note to a colleague can be persuasive. Read more statistics from World Population Review here: Literacy Rate by Country 2025
Body Language
Confidence in your message, as evidenced by body language, is another way to be persuasive. An inability to look someone in the eye can make people think that you're not confident, or being dishonest. If, on the other hand, you look them in the eye, smile, and hold eye contact the whole time you're speaking with them, they will be more easily persuaded. Standing close enough to someone to let your presence be known is another form of persuasive body language that communicates confidence. Shaking hands or touching the same things that they touch, like passing them a piece of paper or a coffee cup shows confidence as well as being comfortable with them. It will make them more likely to listen to your message. Proper body language can also be diplomatic. Learn more about the fine art of diplomacy here: Mastering the Fine Art of Being Diplomatic
Leading by Example
Sometimes you don't have to say anything to be convincing. Your good example speaks for itself. Being true to your word, carrying yourself with pride, dignity, and always being honest are habits that make people trust you, and they would be more likely to listen to what you have to say. Being unafraid of people's uncharitable opinions of you is another way of leading by example. If you are confident enough in your message and personality, that negativity spoken against you doesn't hurt your feelings, people are going to be impressed and want to follow your example. Anytime you want someone to do something, if you do it first and behave as if it is an agreeable thing to do, they will be more likely to do it as well.
How to be Persuasive
“I’m gonna’ make him an offer he can’t refuse.”- Don Corleone
So, how can you be persuasive? There are five simple things that you should do every time you want to persuade anyone of anything. First off, you have to understand someone who you are talking to, and what motivates them. Make your message about what pays off for them instead of how it pays off for you. You have to believe in what you say beyond a shadow of a doubt before you say one word to them. Show the benefits of what you want them to do, and then tell them what will happen if they don't, do what you feel is best. Sometimes you don't have to do all of these things, but combining them together usually convinces people to do anything.
Know Your Audience
The first thing you need is to know what motivates people. If your employees are not motivated by overtime pay, offering them a pay bonus to do overtime isn't going to convince them. However, if you know that they are motivated by taking pride in their job, showing them how supporting the company is an honorable thing to do will get them to enthusiastically do the overtime. If your kids don't care if they're tired for school tomorrow if they don't get to bed in time, telling them that's going to happen won't get them to sleep. However, telling socially conscious teenagers how awful they look when they're tired will make them more likely to get to bed in time. They want to look awful for their boyfriend or girlfriend tomorrow!
What motivates you might not motivate someone else. What motivates one person won't necessarily motivate everyone. If you are working with a group of people, you may need to show multiple benefits of doing what you're trying to get them to do. If you're trying to organize your entire neighborhood to do a park cleanup, some people are going to immediately do it because they believe in taking care of nature. People who don't care about that will need to be motivated some other way, such as with the possibility of winning an award for the most beautiful gardens in the neighborhoods locally. Know what motivates people, and focus on that.
Make it About Them
Obviously, as a supervisor, you're going to want your team to perform better than any other local team. However, your team might not care what your personal professional goals are. If you show them how doing their best will help them grow as individuals, they are more likely to cooperate. If your significant other can't stand your parents, asking them to go to the family gathering for your benefit might not motivate them to go. However, convincing them that your parents will be nicer to them if they show up might persuade them. One Zodiac Sign that is good at thinking of others is Cancer and you can read more about them here: Cancer Zodiac Traits and Love Compatibility
Believe in What You Say
The more enthusiastic you are when you're trying to persuade people, the more likely they are to think that it's a good idea. Maybe the product you're promoting isn't your favorite soft drink, however, If it's your job to sell it, you've got to make people think it's the best one out there. Maybe you're not too keen on eating a lot of vegetables, but if you want your kids to eat their vegetables, you have to act like they're good if you want to get them to. Confidence in what you're trying to persuade people to do might be all it takes to persuade them.
Show the Benefits
Don't just tell people to do something or ask them to. Show the benefits. If you want your student to practice their piano, explain how much faster they'll progress the more they practice. If you want your diabetic patient to reduce their sugar intake, showing them how their health will improve if they do is the perfect way to get them to do it. If people believe what you want them to do benefits them, they will do it. Read more about the power of belief here: What Happens When You Believe? Why it Matters
Show the Alternative
Showing people what bad things will happen if they don't let you persuade them is also a good way to get them to listen. Telling your piano student about someone who never practiced and never progressed in piano playing is a good way to get them to practice. Explaining to your patient all the health problems they will have if their diabetes progresses may be all that it takes to get them to watch their sugar intake. The negatives are sometimes more motivating than the positives
There's going to come a day at some point that you will need to talk somebody into doing something very important. Sometimes asking them to do it won't cut it. That's why it's important to learn to be persuasive. Using speech and writing as well as body language and leading by example will convince people to do things. Simple things like knowing what motivates people and showing how doing what you want benefits them are easy ways to persuade people. One day it will be up to you to make a positive change in the world, and you will do that by your powers of persuasion!
Would you like to know how to persuade someone to do one particular thing? Ask one of our psychics today!
About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for Mysticsense and SpiritualBlossom, and she writes for PaganPages.Org emag and Green Egg Magazine.
