How to Coach Yourself and Others How to Influence, Persuade and Motivate | Page 15

Persuading
“A conscious attempt by one individual or group to change the
attitudes, beliefs, or behavior of another individual or group of
individuals through the transmission of some message.”
One scenario where persuading skills can be important is the
job interview, but the following tips are valuable in many other
settings.
Focus on the needs of the other party. Take time to listen to
them carefully and
find out about their
interests and
expectations. This
shows that you are
really interested in
them and they are
then more likely to
trust and respect you.
It will also make it
easier for you to
outline the benefits
of your proposal in terms they understand.
Argue your case with logic. Do careful research on your ideas
and those of your competitors (if there are any) and make sure
that any claims you make can be verified.
The more hesitant language you use such as "isn't it", "you
know", "um mm" and "I mean" the less people are likely to
believe your argument. (Journal of Applied Psychology)
Use positive rather than negative language: instead of saying
"You're wrong about this", say "That's true, however ...",

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