This book is tiny, but mighty. It details 21 steps on how you can be more persuasive and optimise your chances to hear ‘yes’ when making requests. If you expect to get something, you need to give first; people are more likely to remember that favour and give it back. Exchange favours, even if not for yourself, it could be someone within your team or your circle, a way of paying forward. A little gift can go a long way, while picking one go for quality over price. If you are known to be cooperative, your chances double in having people offer you help in return. Practice the pause when in doubt, when overwhelmed, when tired; better wait to be fully-functional than make decisions at the wrong time. Some compromise can work wonders, but then always start big, never underestimate the value of your ideas, but make sure a plan B is ready to be pitched as well. It’s not enough to just share ideas with others, you have to know what you are talking about; do not shy away from sharing your achievements and accomplishments, even highlighting them for others to see. It is human to err, so whenever you find yourself in fault, take a moment to admit it, and better it if possible; if you can’t detect any flaws, ask others for feedback, it’ll only help you improve and grow. Getting what you want is one question away, people are more likely to respond positively than you imagine, to just go ahead and ask! The art of charming might be one conversation away, next time you are next to another human being who seems just as untroubled as you, make the first step and converse with them, you’ll be amazed of how great that would reflect on your journey. In a world that grows cold by the day, stories and pictures tend to give a more humanising dimension to offers and request, so keep that in mind. Forget about odds attract, if you are seeking more approval rates, dig in for similarities and highlight them. A small compliment goes a long way, so put in the effort to say a few genuine nice things before talking shop. Positive labels related to traits and qualities that are key to your request would prove quite efficient if you use them. Because can be the magic word that grants you all your requests provided there’s sense to them. If you want people to commit, you need to initiate that first; don’t hesitate to share your goals publicly, it might push you to commit more seriously. If you want to up your commitment ratio, set outlined and detailed goals using whens, wheres & hows and follow on them. To win a comparative battle, it’s not about setting the standard high from the get-go, it’s more about saving the best for last; make the most of it. Do you want more followers? Highlight your existing ones and show them all the similar things you have in common. Losses can be the turning point to sway people: this is what you stand to lose if you do / don’t do this, would be enough to be persuasive. Endings tend to stick longer in one’s memory, so make sure you end on high, with a big bang, or just on a good memory.
Persuasion is an art, a very subtle unconscious one, which can be used to sway people and get them to respond more positively and welcomingly to requests even in the most likely scenarios. You can harvest more Yesses along your way, if you understand how to use some or all of the these strategies.