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@ HannahMR
2025-02-25 19:42:23
How to convince someone of something 101:
First, remember that saying nothing is more effective than attacking someone. Attacking/insulting someone does not change their mind on the topic, it changes their mind on you… and causes blow back.
Steps to persuasion(my personal adaption of strategy from Crucial Conversations):
- Establish connection and demonstrate understanding. Repeat back to them their stated concerns until they are satisfied that you understand.
- Note/establish shared goals. Look for areas of agreement and try to find ways to build on them. Acknowledge points where you both share similar values or goals.
- Walk with them. Ask open-ended questions to understand the other person's perspective, such as "What do you think about..." or "What has your experience been with..." Listen attentively to their response and try to understand their thought process. This gives you insight.
- Add your data/perspective and ask for opinions. Present evidence, perspective, experiences, and data that supports your point of view in a clear and concise manner. Avoid being confrontational or aggressive when presenting your facts. Be transparent about your goals and what you hope to achieve from the conversation.
- End on a positive note. Remember that no one is going to change their mind in front of you. If their mind changes it will be while they are in the shower next Tuesday morning. Your goal is to make that change as easy for them as possible, be good to them.
This is a process that works well one on one, but can also be adopted to mass communication if you know your target audience well.
Yes, this is hard! But after a few decades of searching, this is by far the most effective method I have found.