OK, so you want to improve your persuasion power right?
Why? What’s your intention?
As you know your intent directs the flow of energy in your
interactions with others. So doesn’t it just make sense to
have in mind a really clear and strong intent before you
engage in your powerful persuasion mission.
If you were to think about the person(s) you want to
persuade what comes to mind in regards to the benefits they
will gain from your persuasion?
Of course your ‘persuasive pitch’ will be received much more
receptively if your intent is strongly biased to their
benefits.
So stepping into their shoes what benefits can you perceive
from their angle and looking at the situation as if you were
watching a movie what other ideas come to mind?
Having some idea of what the other person(s) want and
keeping that positive intention nice and strong in mind when
interacting with the person(s) will automatically create a
‘good vibe’ between you, thus creating that well known
fundamental persuasion skill – Rapport!
Now in your interaction with the other party you would
increase your persuasion parlance greatly by asking well
focused questions. Basically you want to ask questions that
get the other person to open up so that you can discover one
of the very powerful motivators-to-action in humans known as
‘values.’
This is another aspect of the very fascinating way in which
the human mind works because you find yourself becoming
increasingly curious about people’s values as your
persuasion power increases, doesn’t it.
Now an important point to remember in this curious adventure
is when you have got them talking: You Shut Up! AND Listen!
Isn’t that cool, you just sit there and listen as they give
you loads of high quality information that you can then use
to powerfully persuade and guide them!
By paying attention you will notice that people use certain
words which have a lot of emotional value for them
personally. You could call these words their personal trance
words.
Let me give you an example to clarify what were talking
about. Let’s say you are helping someone make a change in
their life. Now presuming the person has asked you to help
them you can make the change process happen even more
smoothly by asking them certain questions.
So during conversation with this person you could ask them,
“Why exactly do you want to make this change?” And, “What
would having made this change, give you?” And also you could
ask, “Why is that important to you?”
As you ask these questions you will notice that they have to
access deeper parts of their minds. So by paying attention
and listening carefully you will discover some of their
personal trance words.
Some possible examples of their personal trance words might
be: inner peace, better energy, assertiveness. Keep in mind
the important fact that these words could have a deep and
powerful feeling associated with them in their internal
experience.
Now what do you suppose would happen if you were to then
describe and incorporate those wonderful personal trance
words into your persuasive change ‘pitch’?
That’s right, they would be much more likely to go along
with your persuasive intervention because you are using
words which stimulate powerful feelings inside them for the
changes that they really want!
So just what is ‘the ultimate truth in persuasion’? Well the
fact is in the art of persuasion, or indeed anything, there
are many ways of doing things, many perspectives,
techniques, methods and tools. The point being, by using it
and paying attention to feedback, will it get you the
results you want?
Colin G Smith is a licensed Master Practitioner of Neuro-
Linguistic Programming (NLP) and author of ‘The NLP
ToolBox’, a personal development book that enables the
reader to master any area of their life with amazing speed.
Complete information on Colin G Smith’s books are available
at his website, including a FREE personal development eBook.
