4 Proven Ways to Become More Persuasive and Influential

We all know someone who is naturally good at persuading people and influencing others’ opinions. It might seem like it’s a trait you either have or don’t, but in reality, it can also be a learned skill. Even if you are naturally persuasive already, there is always room for honing your skills.

Think being more influential and persuasive isn’t important in your job? Think again. Another word for persuading and influencing people’s opinions is selling, and good sales skills are not only useful in your everyday life, they’re also considered incredibly important by business owners and CEOs. 

So, how can you learn the art of persuasion?

1. Be authentic

We all know the stereotype of the sleazy car salesman. This puts us off -- and for good reason. Embody the exact opposite of that by being authentic and believable. And the best way to be believable is to simply be honest! Don’t lie or mislead your audience; most of the time they will be skeptical. And besides, it’s unethical.

One way of doing this is to share both sides of the argument. If you are arguing for one side, share what the other side’s misgivings could be, then finish with how you would address these misgivings. Sharing both sides will put your audience at ease since they know you aren’t just sugarcoating things.

2. Know your audience

Every person processes information differently, and if they aren’t allowed to do it their way then they could be more likely to feel defensive and say no. Some people prefer to mull things over for a few hours or days before giving an answer, while others prefer to decide right away and just be done with it. Figure out who your audience is and plan your approach accordingly.

Did you also know that your rate of speech can make a difference? According to one study, you should speak quicker with an audience who is more skeptical, but speak slower with an audience who is more receptive or agreeable.

4. Stay positive

When you formulate your pitch, start out by getting your audience to agree to smaller things. Use points you know they will agree with, and then keep the ball rolling as you build up to your main point. It’s a sort of snowball effect for persuasion, and it’s proven to be effective. 

The way you say things is also important. If you’re trying to persuade someone to stop doing something, try to frame it using positive-sounding language. For example, you would say “remember to recycle” instead of “don’t put recyclables in the trash.” Even though the message is the same, using negative words can make people feel guilt-tripped -- and that has shown to be ineffective in persuasion.

4. Be confident (but also be right)

When persuading someone, confidence is key. Research shows that people are much more likely to be persuaded when the person speaking seems confident, not when they are being more accurate. Stop using words like “I think” and start stating things as if you’re 100% certain about them. 

Of course, do the proper amount of homework first. Make sure you areright before you start persuading people. Otherwise, you could lose your credibility, not to mention jeopardizing whatever goal you're trying to accomplish.