How to Influence Others Ethically (...Or Not)

“If you want to persuade appeal to interest not reason”

Persuasion is defined as “the act of inducing (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument.”

This article will be your handbook to successfully appeal to people and tilt the scales in your favour.

Rizz em up

People are suckers for attractive things: attractive people, attractive deals, an attractive gemstone weighing 105.6 carats kept under intense security in a museum in London.

The easiest way to convince a person is to appeal to their interests. Humans are self-centred beings who care primarily about themselves. Therefore, showing an individual exactly how something benefits THEM is the most effective way to persuade someone.

You could be trying to influence them into something that does not benefit them in any way (for whatever reason you might have, who am I to judge). You can try the same method once again. You might wonder, “It DOESN’T benefit them though; how can I show them that it does?” This is where this niche concept called lying comes into play. Persuasion is all about conveying something so convincingly that other people are able to believe in it to the extent to which you want them to.

Persuasion also relies on your appearance. People tend to have a conscious or unconscious bias towards more aesthetically pleasing things. It is known that more conventionally attractive people are able to get away with more than those who do not fit into society’s ideal bracket of attractiveness. For example, some people are more willing to put up with an individual who they find annoying as long as they are attractive. So, if you look attractive to someone, there is a higher chance that you will be able to persuade them of something.

Offering Incentives

In the art of persuasion, offering incentives is like a secret handshake that can open the doors to a world of possibilities. The promise of a prize, whether it's a golden trophy or just a pat on the back, can turn the most stubborn mule into a willing participant. Whether it's a free coffee with your tenth purchase or a bonus at work for reaching your targets, incentives can be the magic wand that gets the job done. We're wired to appreciate and look forward to rewards, big or small. When that prize dangles just within our reach and our minds become a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation, we start to get overwhelmed with the desire to possess which effectively translates to more work being done. If you ever find yourself needing a nudge in the right direction,

remember that incentives are the friendly push we all secretly desire.

Tug at their heartstrings by comminating to nick their heartstrings

An age-old trick to successful persuasion is attempting to appeal to people’s emotions. Most of us know this as guilt-tripping. From Psych Central: “Guilt is the sense that harm was done - to you or another - and the blame may fall at your feet. ...guilt originates from self-evaluation and introspection and may involve your perception of how others value you.” For example, a common experience is when a parent asks you to do something and you say that you’ll do it in a few minutes but if they respond by saying they’ll do it themselves, You tend to feel guilty.

A more unethical method of persuasion is threats. Threats are a form of power play where you are able to persuade someone that you could potentially harm or hurt them or something dear to them. According to an article from changingminds.org: “The common force is that they create fear, which leads to compliance.” Fear is one of the greatest motivators to exist. Thus, this is quite an effective method of persuasion, though it is frowned upon in general society.

Jab at prospectives

While jabbing at someone might not be the most conventional persuasion technique, a gentle poke, metaphorically speaking, can definitely get their attention. It's all about offering a different perspective. Sometimes, we're so deep in our comfort zones that a little friendly jab in the form of a new idea or viewpoint can jolt us out of complacency. So, while we're not advocating for physical poking, a well-timed jab of fresh perspective can act as the spark that ignites curiosity and opens up new horizons.

Summary

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