How to Coach Yourself and Others How to Influence, Persuade and Motivate | Page 23

18. Tell stories
There is a reason that politicians tell stories about
everyday Americans they’ve met on their travels. These
kinds of stories are relatable, make an idea or a concept
real, and build a rapport, helping sell any platform a
politician is running on. Borrow this tactic for your own
negotiations for much more persuasive speech.
19. Never underestimate confidence
Few things will sell an idea or a product better than
confidence. Help bolster your confidence by practicing
your pitch ahead of time and preparing for any questions
and concerns that could arise. More preparation often
means more confidence, and thus, better results.
20. Use personal touches
Adding a personal touch to something can often make
others more motivated to respond and agree to it. One
study showed that adding a simple handwritten sticky note
to a questionnaire made recipients twice as likely to
respond to it. So going the extra mile can really pay off
when it comes to persuasion.
21. Label people
Generally, labeling people isn’t a good thing to do, but it
can be useful when you’re trying to persuade, provided
you keep the labels positive. Labeling people into a social
group can actually increase participation, as one study
found. Those who were told they were more likely to vote
because they were labeled as politically active were
actually, after the study, 15% more likely to vote than
those who were not labeled. The same tactics may just
work with anything you’re trying to sell or promote.

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