Mastering the art of persuasion gives you power.
You’re on the most important elevator ride of your life. You have ten seconds to pitch- the classic “elevator pitch”.
Love or Hate. Money or Despair. And you may never get this chance again. As PM Dawn says, “I feel for you. I really do.”
Most people will be scared and desperate and afraid to ask someone to give them, want them, love them, all in the space of an elevator ride or in the time it takes one to ride an elevator.
One might be in a critical situation when one has to convince absolute strangers to do something for them.
Persuasion is an art. One is either successful in doing it or they miserably fail.
The ideas below have worked in a number of circumstances – in writing or in person, in business, in friendships and in love. Try them out.
A) WHO ARE YOU?
People want to know they are talking to a good, honest, reliable person that they can trust and perhaps even like, or love.
Yes, love.
They won’t love you by looking at your resume.
You have to do method acting. Imagine what your body would feel like if they already said “Yes” even before you open your mouth.
You would be standing up straight, smiling, palms open, ready to close the deal. You have to method act at the beginning of your pitch.
If you are slouched and your head is sticking out then your brain is not as well-connected to your nervous system and you won’t be in ‘flow’.
The reality is: when you’re slouched over, not only are you not using the full potential of your brain, but you look untrustworthy.
B) RELAX
Think about how you breathe when you are anxious and nervous.
I will tell you how I breathe: short, shallow breaths in my upper chest.
So do the reverse before a ten second pitch.
Breathe deep and in your stomach. Even three deep breaths in the stomach (and when you exhale try to imagine your stomach almost hitting your back) has been shown to totally relax the mind and body.
People sense this. Again, this builds trust and relaxes you.
Now, even though you haven’t said a single word, you’ve probably done the two most important things for persuading someone.
C) UHHH. YEAH. UHHH. MMMM-HMMM. UH-HUH
It seems natural to say, “yup” or “right” or “uh-huh” or whatever.
But here’s the facts (and, again, there’s been studies on this): people perceive you as stupid when you do this.
Just keep quiet when someone is talking.
Then, when someone is done speaking, wait for two seconds before responding. They might not be done yet. And it gives you time to think of a response. If you are thinking of a response while they are talking, then you aren’t listening to them.
People unconsciously know when you are not listening to them. Then they say No to you.
