Professionalizing Persuasion: Making Things Happen
Imagine entering into a difficult situation. Say you've got to close a deal, push a new idea, change a policy, sell a price hike, make a friend out of someone who's angry with you, or reveal that you've failed to fulfill a promise. How are you going to out-perform the next person at something like this? How do you execute it gracefully and expertly. These are fairly common pressure-filled circumstances. What's your competitive advantage?
Persuasive Under Pressure is a course in the science, tools and common-sense of moving people gently but firmly toward your way of thinking. To be maximally persuasive in the broadest range of situations, you must value relationship over the quick fix, authenticity over sheen. You must have a better handle on the human nature of changing minds, be able to deploy charm at a moment's notice, and you must be strategic.
Persuasive Under Pressure is a discipline. Master it, you'll augment your influence, and find yourself closer to people you might otherwise have been in conflict with. When the pressure is on, you'll be the calmest, most effective person in the room.
Consider the most persuasive and charming person you know. Chances are:
They can talk to anyone.
They have friends where we have acquaintances. In business, they're treated as partners rather than associates.
They're resilient: They don't take things personally.
They're buoyant: What we consider defeat, they experience as setback.
They have charm, whatever that is (we explore this).
They cut deals that go more smoothly, finish more quickly, and often more profitably.
They guide people to accepting new ideas.
They're more comfortable saying say “No.”
They are better liked than anyone who gets so much done has a right to be.
Persuasive people look at the world upside-down. They see conflict as opportunity, contentiousness as fun, and solutions as intimacy. In short they cut through social and business situations like a warm knife through butter. From a business standpoint, they are more Efficient.
A rare few are born to persuasion. For the rest of us, being able to emulate what they do - insightfully, professionally - will change your world. Here's how.