Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The saying 'No man is an island' is an undeniable truth. We need the support and cooperation of other people to help us in reaching our goals. Successful people know that one of the most important abilities to possess is the ability to persuade and influence others. Here are some hot tips to do this effectively.

1. Enter Their World

Try to put yourself in the other's shoes and understand the situation from their point of view. Set aside your personal interests and concentrate on them.

Ask yourself if you are them, what would you do? What would be your opinion? Then take the appropriate action that would be beneficial to them.

2. Mirror Their Body Language

People feel comfortable with those who are like them. Copy the person you are trying to create a connection with.

Observe how they act, how they speak, and how they think. If they rub their forehead while they think, act like them. If they speak at a clear and slow pace, try to do the same thing. This is called mirroring.

In due time, the people you're mirroring will subconsciously feel more comfortable with you. It's as if they see themselves in you.

Proceed with caution, however. Do not let them be aware that you are copying them. They might interpret it as mockery and you'll just get into trouble.

3. Be Cheerful and Nice

Did your mother tell you to be nice to people? She was right. People like others who brighten up their day. Make a sincere compliment to raise their spirits. Little things like these go a long way to breaking the ice and setting the relationship off to a good start.

4. Be Sincere and Trustworthy

Make them feel that whenever they need help or just someone to look up to, you'll always be there to lend a hand. People tend to be more receptive to those they trust.

If you have a boss or client you are trying to please, overdeliver and exceed their expectations. Soon, they will notice your efforts and will be more than glad to grant your request.

5. Provide Them With Compelling Evidence

Explain to them how your ideas or suggestions could be the most effective techniques to implement. Show them undeniable proof that you have the best product by way of testimonials, before and after scenarios, and detailed comparisons against your competitors. Just make sure that all your claims are true and verifiable. Always maintain a good reputation.

6. Show Them What's In It For Them

This is the most important thing to remember when persuading anyone. People are self-centered. They always put their own well-being before others. No matter how close you are to becoming like them or how overwhelming your evidence is, if it does not satisfy the "What's In It For Me?" test, your persuasion efforts will not produce satisfactory results.

If you can prove that your proposal will provide more advantageous benefits to them than to you, they are more likely to accept it.

7. Genuinely Care For Them

Focus more on their interests, desires, needs, and expectations, so you can satisfy their craving for attention, and establish mutual trust and respect. It also shows that you really care about them and that will make them more likely to trust you and want to work with you.