Basics Of Persuading

Persuading skills are also called negotiating or influencing skills. It is the ability to get someone else to agree to something with you. Here are a few basic tips taught in most persuasion courses on how to best persuade someone:

1. Begin by focusing in on the other party and understanding where they are coming from. This requires active listening for you to find out what are their needs, interests, opinions, and expectations.
2. Make sure you have done research on  your topic so you can keep the conversation to discussing logical facts and not emotional details.
3. Know ho to speak with confidence or you may not get others to believe in your credibility. If they question your knowledge, then they may not follow your lead.
4. Watch how you speak. It is critical to be positive and not put down other views. Telling someone they are wrong about something immediately puts them on the defensive.
5. Look for a common ground. Find the things you both agree on and compliment the other person on those facts before pointing out the differences.
6. Listen carefully to the other person to make sure you understand their point of view. You can mirror them to be sure you understand their points.

If you practice some of these skills, you may be able to come to an agreement where you both get what they want – a win-win.