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Be confident -

If there is one trait that all persuasive people have, it’s confidence. Studies suggest that it's the main behavioral difference between persuaders and persuadees.

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Be confident -

Confidence is very easy to fake and very difficult to distinguish, so if you don’t have it, fake it. You will almost certainly achieve the same results.

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Use logic -

In addition to confidence, people are easily convinced by logical arguments. If you are trying to persuade someone to do something for you, explain the logic behind why they should.

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Use logic -

For example, if you are trying to convince your boss to let you take the lead on a project, explain why you are the best fit for the job and will do it better than others.

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Make it seem mutually beneficial -

This one can be tricky, but if you can, it’s a good idea to make the favor seem beneficial to both parties. This is one of the more subtle moves in the art of persuasion.

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Make it seem mutually beneficial -

For example, if you’re trying to convince a friend to invest in your business, show them that you have a strong business plan that will ensure a great return on their investment.

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Choose your words -

Again, this is a more subtle one, but it’s worth remembering. Some words inherently have a more positive connotation than others. For example, “lucrative” is stronger than “good.”

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Choose your words -

It's not always a question of inserting unnecessarily long words, but rather of arranging your words properly so that you can communicate clearly and come across well.

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Use flattery -

This is a risky tactic, since you want to avoid being too obvious with your flattery. Try to use subtle and off-the-cuff remarks wherever possible.

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Use flattery -

For example, “Do you think you could get those numbers to me by the end of this week? I know you are normally very on top of things, but I just wanted to make sure.”

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Be patient, but persistent -

Try and remember that you won’t always be able to convince everyone of everything the first time round. If you don’t success at first, don’t resort to groveling.

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Be patient, but persistent -

Instead, you should leave the matter and come back to it at a later stage. Your persuasive arguments will linger in the person’s mind and you might have a better shot the next time round.

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Be likeable -

Perhaps an obvious one, and easier said than done in some cases, but it’s important to remember the power of being likeable. Likeable people are honest, fair, responsive, sincere, and reasonable.

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Be likeable -

Adopting these character traits and living by them will make you more persuasive to a broader audience and secure strong, long-term relationships, both business and personal.

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Be curious -

If you're looking to create a business relationship, perhaps with a new client, being curious about that client’s business will get you a long way.

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Be curious -

If you are curious about the client’s pain points, their challenges, and their goals, you will create a strong and genuine relationship that will do much of the persuading for you.

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Understand the end goals -

Similarly, it is important that you understand a client’s end goals when you are trying to persuade them of something. The end goal of persuasion is that both parties get what they want.

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Understand the end goals -

If you are trying to persuade a new client to give you their business, do your best to fully understand their end goals. That way you can modify your offer accordingly, if necessary.

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Believe in your product -

This one is perhaps obvious, but it’s often overlooked. It is extremely important to believe in yourself and in your product, that you can add value in one way or another.

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Believe in your product -

If you believe in yourself and in your product, this will shine through and persuade others to believe in you, too. If you don’t, however, people will be filled with doubt and not easily persuaded.

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Be knowledgeable -

In a similar vein, make sure that your knowledge is there. If you are a real expert in your craft, it will be obvious and people will need less persuading.

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Be knowledgeable -

If you are super knowledgeable and trustworthy, the conversion will be less about the art of persuasion and more about educating someone about what you know and how it can help them.

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Use storytelling -

As a general rule, people are more easily persuaded by emotions than by facts. A great way to get someone on board is to establish a narrative.

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Use storytelling -

For example, if you are trying to convince someone to invest in your company, an effective tactic can be to tell that person the story of the origins of your company.

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Choose your target -

It's important to remember that everyone can be persuaded, but only if the timing and context are right. If the timing and context are off, you may well be wasting your time.

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Choose your target -

Focus your energy on establishing the group of people that can be persuaded to your point of view at the given point in time. You will likely yield much better results.

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Leverage reciprocity -

Reciprocity is a very useful tool when it comes to the art of persuasion. It is hardwired into us that we help each other out; if I do something for you, you’ll want to do something for me.

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Leverage reciprocity -

You will do well to remember that you can leverage reciprocity disproportionately, too: if you do a number of small favors for someone, they will be more likely to do you a bigger favor in return.

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Don't assume -

It is in our nature to assume that we know exactly what a person needs and wants at a given time. In sales this often holds people back from offering their value.

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Don't assume -

Try not to assume that people don’t have money or interest. Instead you should focus on offering what you have and letting the other person decide.

Sources: (Business Insider) (Forbes)

See also: How gender biases impede business

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