Time-tested strategies in persuasion consistently yield results, explaining their enduring popularity over centuries.
In the realm of interpersonal communication, the ability to influence others is a valuable skill that can be consciously developed, rather than a natural talent. High-performance coach Brendon Burchard's acronym CUP—connect, uplift, and praise—offers a practical approach to approaching conversations effectively.
According to the book "Psychology of Persuasion," trust and keeping the other person's interests at heart are paramount. Building trust and being consistent are key to influencing others, as emphasized by various leadership and influence frameworks.
A successful interaction often hinges on the number of questions asked. By asking questions, you can understand someone's values, motivations, and emotional experiences, encouraging them to take the initiative to shape the outcome and discover the answers themselves.
Influential people primarily influence others through teaching. They challenge us to become the best version of ourselves, inspiring us through stories, metaphors, and analogies. Dale Carnegie, author of "How to Win Friends and Influence People," stresses the importance of praising the person you're trying to persuade sincerely.
To effectively influence others, follow these seven steps:
- Build Strong Relationships: Engage genuinely with others, understand their motivations, and support their goals to build trust and rapport, which are fundamental for influence.
- Involve Others Early: Seek input and involvement from those affected by decisions, promoting collaboration and shared ownership that enhance your influence.
- Share Your Passion and Vision Clearly: Communicate your enthusiasm and vision authentically to inspire and energize others towards common goals.
- Lead by Example and Follow Through: Demonstrate reliability by consistently honoring commitments, even small ones; this builds credibility and respect crucial for influence.
- Show Humility and Admit When You Don’t Know: Being open about limits and willing to connect others with expertise increases trust and perceived authenticity.
- Practice Emotional Intelligence: Manage your emotions, listen actively, and exhibit empathy to better connect and influence others effectively.
- Engage Stakeholders and Foster Shared Understanding: Cultivate buy-in by clearly articulating the purpose and benefits of initiatives or ideas, especially by involving senior leaders early to model and champion the approach.
These steps combine relationship-building, communication, credibility, emotional skills, and strategic stakeholder engagement to effectively influence others. By understanding someone's fundamental values and the forces driving them, you can tailor your approach to be an effective influencer, helping others persuade themselves and inspiring them to become the best version of themselves.
- Leadership and entrepreneurship often require one to be an effective influencer, using the CUP approach (connect, uplift, and praise) as suggested by high-performance coach Brendon Burchard.
- Finance experts might persuade clients by understanding their financial values and motivations, encouraging them to take the initiative to make informed decisions.
- Influence in lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and home-and-garden industries could be achieved by sharing personal growth, career development, and education-and-self-development experiences that inspire others to become the best version of themselves.
- The business world cherishes influential leaders who can build strong relationships, lead by example, practice emotional intelligence, and foster shared understanding among stakeholders.
- By mastering the seven steps outlined in the book "Psychology of Persuasion," one can effectively influence others in various aspects of life, be it in personal relationships, within the family, or at work.
