The One and Only Art of Convincing Others to Do Things
How do great leaders convince others to do something? (Great leaders don’t need to use force or fear).
So, seriously, how can we convince others to do something?
We’ve all been there.
Trying to tell someone to do something is hard. Too many times, it just doesn’t work. But there seem to be some people who can do this very easily. Naming the greatest leaders (not dictators) we know of.
The uniquely powerful, art of persuasion is actually incredibly EASY.
And it works like a charm. It can be used by absolutely anyone, and here it is:
When you ask someone to do something, give them the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE between saying 'yes' and 'no' to your request; as easy as that.
By simply adding something like this to your sentence: “but ultimately it is your decision”, or something similar like "but do not feel obliged" you are indirectly telling them that you are not threatening their right to say no.
Many studies were conducted ( Carpenter, 2013 ) using this technique, and in all these studies, this technique nearly doubled the chance that the person would say 'yes' to the request.
So, why is this so powerful?
Because people don’t like to have their choices narrowed down. All through the history, humans have resented being dictated, or forced to do things. We all need to have the flexibility to make decisions. So when we are given that flexibility, we are automatically happier, and more willing to decide favorably to the request.
And, here it is. Don’t forget to use this for good causes!