7 Effective Ways to Convince Someone to Do Something

Do you know how to convince someone to help you or help themselves? I want to teach you. 

Important Disclaimer: Sure, mastering these techniques can significantly enhance your communication skills and persuasive abilities. BUT it is essential to be mindful of the fine line between persuasion and manipulation.

Persuasion is about ethically influencing others by presenting logical, emotional reasoning, and credible arguments.

Manipulation, on the other hand, involves deceit and trickery, aiming to control others for personal gain without considering their best interests.

Always strive to persuade ethically, ensuring that your intentions are transparent and both you and the others involved are OK with it!

Here’s a quick summary of the article: Master persuasion by using confidence, storytelling, empathy, reciprocity, nonverbal communication, clarity, and logical arguments. Avoid manipulation by ethically influencing others and focusing on building genuine connections. These strategies will help you get your messages heard and your ideas valued in any scenario!

How Can People Listen to Me?

People tend to listen to those with a blend of both confidence and charisma. In this blog post, we’ll cover these seven crucial tips to get people to listen to you and your ideas:

• Present your ideas with certainty and conviction to inspire confidence in others.
• Use compelling stories to illustrate your points and make your message memorable.
• Engage with empathy and curiosity to build rapport and understand the other person’s perspective.
• Apply the principle of reciprocity by offering something valuable before asking for a favor.
• Master nonverbal communication to enhance your persuasive power.
• Clearly outline the benefits to the other person to make your proposition more attractive.
• Communicate with clarity by using plain language and avoiding jargon.

Use storytelling to turn boring evidence into relatable experiences

Stories have the power to evoke emotions, create connections, and make complex information more relatable. When you use storytelling to illustrate your points, you make your message more compelling and easier to remember.

A great example from Shark Tank is when entrepreneur Dave Vasen pitched his mobile app, Brightwheel^{1 https://mybrightwheel.com/} , which helps parents track their children at daycare. He shared his own stories as a parent finding himself missing out on his daughter’s daily life, making his pitch memorable and convincing. The success of his pitch was not just in the functionality of the app but in how he connected emotionally with the sharks through storytelling.

Action Step: So, we talked about the importance of evidence in the last step. But let’s take it even further. Present your evidence in a way that is relatable and compelling. Here’s how:

• Tell a Story: Start with a story that highlights your key point. For example, instead of just saying, “Our marketing strategy increased sales by 25%,” begin with, “Imagine a small business struggling to break even, then implementing our marketing strategy and seeing a 25% increase in sales within three months. This is what happened to one of our clients.”
• Use Visuals: People process visuals faster than text. Use charts, graphs, and infographics to present your data. Show a before-and-after chart of sales performance, or create an infographic that breaks down complex statistics into easy-to-understand visuals.
• Make it Personal: Connect the evidence to your audience’s experiences. For instance, “As professionals, we’ve all felt the frustration of stagnant growth. This strategy not only boosts numbers but revitalizes team morale, just like it did for us.”
• Highlight Benefits: Focus on the positive outcomes of the evidence. Instead of just presenting data, emphasize how it can benefit your audience. “This 25% increase in sales translates to more resources for innovation, higher employee bonuses, and greater market share.”
• Use Testimonials: Incorporate quotes or testimonials from clients or colleagues who have seen the benefits of your evidence in action. “Jane, our client, mentioned, ‘This strategy transformed our business, making us more competitive and profitable.'”

Besides storytelling, you’ll also need to get a grasp on how to deal with people. That’s where this comes in:

Use the Benjamin Franklin Effect to build rapport

The principle of reciprocity is a powerful psychological trigger. In his book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini explains that people are more likely to say yes to those who have done something for them. This principle can be applied by offering something of value first, which can be as simple as providing help, giving a compliment, or sharing valuable information.

Why does this work? Reciprocity works because it creates a sense of obligation. When someone does something for us, we feel compelled to return the favor. This is called the Benjamin Effect.

Reciprocity works because when you ask someone to do something for you (say, giving you a drive to the airport), they become emotionally invested in you. Think about it: why would someone spend their precious time and effort to help another person? That person must mean something to them, right?

In effect, the Benjamin Franklin Effect makes you part of their life.

Is it as simple as it sounds? The answer is yes!

Check out the video below on the Benjamin Effect in action… 

Action Step: Start by offering something valuable to the person you want to persuade. For instance, if you’re trying to get a coworker to help with a project, you might offer to assist them with one of their tasks first.

This act of goodwill can create a sense of obligation, making them more likely to reciprocate. Of course, you’ll want to make sure to avoid being a people pleaser and ask them something back in return when appropriate.

Know your audience’s counterarguments (and how to debunk them!)

This one’s a great technique highlighted by Celeste Headlee in her TED Talk, “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation.”

Headlee suggests that by truly listening and asking thoughtful questions, you can create a deeper connection and understand what motivates the other person, making easier ways to persuade them.

You can check out Hedlee’s full video here before we begin the breakdown:

In a nutshell, engaging first with empathy and curiosity involves actively imagining yourself in the other person’s situation and demonstrating a sincere interest in them. What are their viewpoints? What emotions are they feeling? Should they even believe you in the first place, and why or why not?

To build a strong case, consider using two-sided arguments. Brainstorm potential counter-arguments to your position and then refute them.

Here’s an Example: “Sure, I understand that some people might think that our solution is too costly upfront. However, the long-term savings in operational efficiency and reduced downtime will more than offset the initial investment. Here’s why.”

Action Step: Brainstorm potential counterarguments to your ideas! In the moment, you can also ask open-ended questions that show you value their opinion. For example, “Can you tell me more about what you think of this approach?” or “What are your thoughts on how we can improve this?”

Want more? Here’s our guide on how to ask open-ended questions: How to Ask Open-Ended Questions That Spark Good Conversation

Master the art of nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication often speaks louder than words. Imagine walking into a room, standing tall with a confident smile, and using open gestures—your presence alone commands attention and respect.

When your body language mirrors your words, you persuade. If you don’t, no worries! Let’s work on our body language.

Action Step: Here is a short list of better body language practices you can incorporate into your everyday speaking.

Eye Contact

• Good Body Language: Maintain consistent eye contact.
• Advanced Body Language: Use purposeful eye contact to connect with different members of the group, allowing for inclusivity and making everyone feel acknowledged. Employ the “triangle technique” by briefly shifting your gaze between the listener’s eyes and mouth to convey attentiveness.

Posture

• Good Body Language: Stand or sit up straight with shoulders back.
• Advanced Body Language: Adopt a posture that aligns with the context of the interaction. For formal settings, maintain a composed, upright stance. In more relaxed or creative environments, adopt a more open and dynamic posture, mirroring the energy of the room to foster rapport and engagement.

Facial Expressions

• Good Body Language: Smile genuinely and appropriately.
• Advanced Body Language: Develop microexpression awareness to detect subtle emotional cues and respond with nuanced expressions. Use intentional facial cues like a slight brow raise to show curiosity or a gentle nod to express agreement, reinforcing verbal communication.

Head Position

• Good Body Language: Tilt head slightly to show interest.
• Advanced Body Language: Utilize varied head positions strategically: a slight tilt to convey interest, a steady and level position for assertiveness, and occasional deliberate movements to punctuate key points. Combine head nods with synchronized verbal affirmations to enhance speaker encouragement and build deeper conversational connections.

These are just skimming the surface! Want more? Check out: 23 Essential Body Language Examples and Their Meanings

Clearly outline benefits to increase persuasion

When people understand how they will benefit from your request, they’re much more likely to say yes.

Being crystal clear can significantly boost your persuasive power!

Action Step: Instead of saying, “I need you to help with this project,” reframe it to focus on their benefits: “Helping with this project will give you a chance to showcase your skills to upper management and could lead to a promotion.”

Take it a step further by aligning the benefits with their personal and professional aspirations. For instance, “By collaborating on this project, you’ll not only enhance your leadership skills but also gain favor when it comes to next month’s performance review.”

Here are a couple of real-life examples and sources to illustrate the power of outlining benefits:

Example 1: One study found that employees who understood the personal benefits of their tasks were 2.5 times more likely to be engaged at work. When their tasks were linked to personal growth opportunities, they showed higher job satisfaction and performance.

Example 2: An article from Harvard Business Review^{2 https://hbr.org/2020/04/how-to-get-people-to-really-listen-to-you} highlights how framing requests in terms of benefits can increase compliance and commitment. For instance, managers who explained how project involvement could lead to skill enhancement and career growth saw a 40% increase in team participation.

Use the Three-Part Message Technique to clarify ideas

When trying to persuade someone, clear and straightforward communication is essential. If your message is confusing or filled with jargon, it won’t resonate. To make your communication stand out, employ the “Three-Part Message Technique”:

1. State the Issue Clearly: Identify the problem or need in straightforward terms.

Example: “Many companies struggle with managing their data effectively, leading to wasted time and increased errors.”

2. Explain the Solution Simply: Describe how your solution addresses the issue in plain language. This means avoiding technical jargon and focusing on how your solution works in a way that’s easy and actionable.

Example: “Our platform organizes your data automatically, so you don’t have to spend hours doing it manually.”

3. Highlight the Benefits: Emphasize the advantages and positive outcomes of your solution. Show how it will improve their situation, making the benefits both tangible and relevant.

Example: “This not only saves you valuable time but also reduces errors, helping your business run smoothly and efficiently.”

Here are some more great examples:

Instead of: “Our software leverages cutting-edge algorithms to streamline processes.”

Say: “Our software uses advanced technology to make your work easier.”

Explain the Solution Simply:

Instead of: “The implementation involves a multi-faceted approach to optimize performance metrics.”

Say: “Our solution works faster and more efficiently, saving you time and money.”

Instead of: “Users will experience a significant enhancement in operational efficiency.”

Say: “You’ll see quicker results and reduce costs.”

Using the Three-Part Message Technique, you can communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively.

Brainstorm what ideas you want to convey and implement the above three-part strategy to make your ideas more convincing!

Act as if you are already confident (even when you’re not)

Have you ever noticed that people are naturally drawn to those who are confident and sure of themselves?

There is a quote in Wolf of Wall Street, the memoir written by former stockbroker and trader Jordan Belfort:

“Act as if! Act as if you’re a wealthy man, rich already, and then you’ll surely become rich. Act as if you have unmatched confidence and then people will surely have confidence in you. Act as if … [and] you will become successful.”

Why does this work?

Research^{3 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.785677/full} has shown that people who speak with confidence are perceived as more credible and persuasive, even if their message lacks solid evidence. 

And yes, this does mean one can be the most confident person in the room, yet have nothing substantial to say at all. Don’t be that person.

You’ll also need evidence. When your confident assertions are backed up with logical argument and evidence, it solidifies your credibility even further. Take, for example:

Using Evidence/Logic: “In our last quarter, we saw a 25% increase in sales after implementing the new marketing strategy, which clearly indicates its effectiveness.”

Using Only Confidence: “I am confident that our team can meet the project deadline with outstanding results.”

Action Step: When presenting your ideas, do so with confidence and conviction. Use definitive language and avoid hedging. For example, instead of saying, “I think this might work,” say, “This will work because…” This certainty can inspire confidence and agreement in others. It’s important to back up your confident assertions with facts and logical reasoning to solidify your credibility.

Pro Tip: Want to sound even more convincing? Truly believe in what you are saying first. Let’s say you’re selling a product, but perhaps you’re just unsure of the clear benefits to potential customers.

Research more, find out competitor products, and learn more about the industry to see if your product really is the best solution. Then, when you’ve convinced yourself, you can convince others, too!

Examples on What to Say to Someone to Convince Them to Do Something

Want even more examples? We’ve got you covered! Take a look below with ideas to make them even better.

Good example 1:

“It would be a great experience if you work on this project.”

Better example 1:

“Participating in this project will not only enhance your skills but also give you a chance to showcase your abilities to upper management. This could open up opportunities for future advancements.”

Although “great experience” is already suggesting a benefit, it is a little vague. You can do better by including how and why it can be a great experience in a way that also benefits them.

Good example 2: 

“I believe this strategy can help improve our team’s productivity based on its success in previous projects.”

Better example 2:

“Based on our past successes, I’m confident this strategy will significantly boost our team’s productivity by at least 20%. Similar approaches have consistently delivered excellent results in other teams.”

“I believe…..” may add some certainty, but “Based on our past successes, I’m confident….” brings the certainty into the next level.

It also clearly outlined benefits with our best friend in science—NUMBERS! The “at least 20%” quantifies the expected improvement, which makes the claim more concrete and believable.

Good example 3:

“We tried a similar approach with another team last year, and they saw a noticeable improvement in their efficiency.”

Better example 3:

“Last quarter, we implemented a similar strategy with the marketing team, and they saw a 25% increase in efficiency. Initially, they were skeptical, but the results were clear. One team member even received a promotion because of their contribution to the project.”

If using numbers is not enough, add a STORY! 

“One team member even received a promotion because of their contribution to the project.” is suggesting your listener(s) could be the next one receiving a promotion.

Unlock the Power of Persuasion: Key Takeaways and Essential Strategies for Effective Communication

Mastering the art of persuasion involves a blend of confidence, storytelling, empathy, reciprocity, nonverbal communication, clarity, and logical arguments. Here are the key points to remember:

1. Present your ideas with certainty and conviction to inspire confidence in others.
2. Use compelling stories to illustrate your points and make your message memorable.
3. Engage with empathy and curiosity to build rapport and understand the other person’s perspective.
4. Apply the principle of reciprocity by offering something valuable before asking for a favor.
5. Master nonverbal communication to enhance your persuasive power.
6. Clearly outline the benefits to the other person to make your proposition more attractive.
7. Communicate with clarity by using plain language and avoiding jargon.

Feeling heard and respected is a fundamental human need. By leveraging these seven strategies, you can ensure that your voice is heard and valued in any scenario, whether at work, with friends, or in other social settings.

Interested in becoming more persuasive? Check out: 8 Techniques You Can Learn To Become More Persuasive