This article was co-authored by Guy Reichard and by wikiHow staff writer, Dev Murphy, MA. Guy Reichard is an Executive Life Coach and the Founder of HeartRich Coaching & Training, a professional life coaching and inner leadership training provider based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He works with people to create more meaning, purpose, well-being, and fulfillment in their lives. Guy has over 10 years of personal growth coaching and resilience training experience, helping clients enhance and transform their inner worlds, so they can be a more positive and powerful influence on those they love and lead. He is an Adler Certified Professional Coach (ACPC), and is accredited by the International Coach Federation. He earned a BA in Psychology from York University in 1997 and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from York University in 2000.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Persuasion comes up every day, whether you're trying to get someone to close a business deal or convince a friend that you're on the right side of a debate. Some people say that persuasion is an art, but it doesn't have to be that complicated. You just have to show the other person that giving you what you want is in their best interest, and there are a lot of different ways you can do that. Not sure where to start? Don't worry—to help you out, we've compiled a list of ways to easily persuade anyone of anything.
Easy Ways to Convince Someone to Do Something
- Do the person a favor and then make your request.
- Offer some incentive to help convince them.
- Trick them into thinking it was their idea.
- Focus on the potential losses rather than the gains.
- Offer to give them something in return.
- Mention that other people are doing what you want them to do.
- Make your proposition with "we" language.
Steps
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I persuade my friends to let me in on something I am unaware of? They refuse to tell me what it is.Community AnswerIf they don't want to let you on something, let it be that way. If they're excluding you unfairly, then you may want to weigh the value of those relationships. But they may be leaving you out for a good reason, in which case, make peace with the fact that you don't (and can't) always know everything.
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QuestionHow do I ask someone to be partners with me for school?Nupur GoyalCommunity AnswerFirst try to help him/her as much as you can, then ask him/her.
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QuestionWhen I want to do a group project but somebody asks "What do I get out of it?", what should I answer?Tom De BackerTop AnswererIt's normal to ask that. After all, the person is investing time and effort. Many people are more than willing to do something for the sole benefit of others, but it's good to know what's what. At the very least, the people in the project get the satisfaction of knowing they contributed to a project that helped others.
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Tips
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Be mature about it all – if after trying everything possible, they still say “no," let it go.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/6-ways-to-persuade-anyone-of-anything-2016-7#-4
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7379863/
- ↑ http://www.simplypsychology.org/asch-conformity.html
- ↑ https://crm.org/articles/ethos-pathos-logos-the-three-modes-of-persuasion
- ↑ https://arxiv.org/pdf/1306.1927v1.pdf)
- ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/6-ways-to-persuade-anyone-of-anything-2016-7#-6
- ↑ Guy Reichard. Executive Life Coach. Expert Interview. 19 March 2020.
- ↑ https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/the-pygmalion-effect
- ↑ http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227115.500-humans-prefer-cockiness-to-expertise.html
About This Article
The best way to persuade someone is to talk about what they'll lose if they don't follow your advice, since people naturally hate losing more than they like winning. If that doesn't work, try to make them laugh, which will make them happier and more willing to help you. Alternatively, when you first ask for something, try asking for something bigger than you want, so they'll feel like they're compromising with what you actually want. For example, if you're trying to get your busy partner to go out for a date, start by asking for a weekend away, and then suggest just a date instead. If there's a deadline for whatever you're trying to persuade someone about, emphasize the urgency of the situation, since this encourage people to act now and gives them less time to change their mind. For more tips, including how to find the right time to persuade someone, read on!