The Un-Common-Sense

Though it's kind of a given that some people are more naturally persuasive than others, what is it that they do? It was common-sensical of us to look closely at that. But what we turned up was the exact opposite of common. 

Persuasive people, it turns out, live in a world turned upside down. They seem to sense conflict as a special opportunity, and it makes them eager. If they can successfully put you at your ease - even if both sides continue to disagree - then disagreeing becomes comfortable (strangely). Thus they established a kind of intimacy, which serves them well into the future. They use it to build relationships, and as a platform for uncovering interesting solutions. Because they enjoy this process, they are tireless and unprovocable. They are interested in gathering your ideas; they use them to convince you to their way of thinking. They wear you down with persistent charm and ever-improving arguments. It's their milieu, where they thrive, their chance to out-perform.

For the rest of us, this is entirely counter-intuitive. So, we must go to Charm School for the Charmless. Here you'll learn not only how to emulate the highly unusual behaviors of the highly persuasive, but why they do them and why they work. Armed with your new scientific understanding (previously discussed), you'll actually develop a better conscious comprehension of what's going on than those with merely natural charm. You'll be in possession of your own personal brand of deployable, functional charm.

Even if it feels a little unnatural to think of yourself as deft, disarming, and delightful under pressure, once you position yourself exactly like a highly charming person, and master their approaches, you'll be amazed at how much latitude you are granted, and how much more you can accomplish.

Now that you are calm under pressure, you can become cool and collected, as well. You can become strategic.