Developing the power of persuasion will help you make your way through the world of business and interpersonal relationships. Whether you want to convince a customer to make a big purchase or persuade your parents to let you in later on weekends, learning how to build a solid argument, put it in the right words and understand the person you're arguing with can help you be convincing. with practically anyone. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Developing Good Arguments
Step 1. Do your homework
Make sure you understand your individual point of view first, whether it's personal tastes (for example, do you think Goodfellas are better than the Godfather), are trying to get your parents to let you in later, or are discussing a moral issue, such as capital punishment. First, find all the facts, without making any assumptions about the other person's point of view.
If you have to sell something, like a car, you need to know everything there is to know about the car for sale. Similarly, you need to be as knowledgeable as possible about vehicles competing with yours
Step 2. Define the terms of the discussion
For certain arguments, it is not enough to know the simple facts. Don't waste your time discussing the beauty of the Eiffel Tower if you're looking to reiterate its iconicity instead. Define your terms. Is it a moral question? An aesthetic question? A question related to personal rights and freedoms?
For example, if you want to convince a person that the Statue of Liberty is more "beautiful" than the Eiffel Tower, you need to have enough knowledge of architecture and aesthetics to discuss this topic. Also, you need to know hard facts, such as the height of each structure, the architect, and the set of criteria that should be used to weigh the options
Step 3. Develop your reasoning
Preparing a good argument is a bit like building a table - you want the main point to be backed up by supporting reasoning just as the wooden shelf is held by the legs. If you don't have supporting arguments and evidence, you would just have a wooden shelf with no legs, so you wouldn't have a full table. Just as in an essay you would accurately state and write the thesis, you must define and articulate the basic point you intend to support and collect supporting evidence that supports your words.
If your main point is "Modern art is boring", what are the reasons that prompted you to proclaim it? Have you decided to base the argument on the motivation of the artists? On the inscrutability of work? On the lack of popularity among the masses? Think about your motives and you will reinforce the point you make
Step 4. Support your reasoning with examples and clear proofs
You have to use memorable and impressive details to illustrate your point of view. Want to convince someone that the Beatles are the greatest band of all time? It will be difficult to assert yourself if you can't remember the title of "that album" you like, or if you don't have the right songs to offer a common point of reference while you support the discussion.
Step 5. Let your opponent win a little battle so that you can win the whole war
Accept a minor opinion expressed by your interlocutor and show that you can change your mind. By doing this, you let him know that you agree on certain aspects of the issue, and this will open the other person's mind about your point of view. If you are willing to give in on certain parts of the argument to win the general dispute, this allows you to take the stronger position.
The difference between discussion and quarrel? An argument goes far beyond rationality and is driven by the ego. One of the two doesn't want to be wrong, and you and your interlocutor have decided to trip each other repeatedly until one of them falls
Part 2 of 3: Express Your Argument
Step 1. Be as confident as you are assertive
A person's self-esteem attracts us. Presenting your point of view with the conviction and supposition that you have irrefutable evidence is the most valid method there is to support it. Whatever point you are trying to prove, you will be able to do it more effectively if you believe in it.
- Being assertive doesn't mean being stubborn and aggressive. You can certainly believe deeply in your point of view on the argument, but show yourself open to alternatives.
- Propose yourself as an expert on the subject using good examples and solid reasoning, it must be easy for the other person to believe you. To convince someone that you have a valid point of view on the Beatles, you first have to give the impression that you know your stuff in the music field.
Step 2. Focus on the staff
While anecdotal evidence can be considered logically erroneous, leveraging a person's empathy and pathos by telling them a personal anecdote related to the topic can be quite convincing. It doesn't necessarily have to prove what you're saying, but it may be enough to be persuasive.
If you want to persuade someone that the death penalty is wrong, you need to leverage their sense of morality, an inherently emotional argument. Stores stories about people who have been imprisoned and wrongfully sentenced to death; tells the facts in a heartbreaking way, emphasizing the inhumanity of the system
Step 3. Stay calm
Going crazy is a bad way to get someone to be right. Being confident in the facts you present, the evidence you use to back up your statements, and the perspective you bring into play would easily persuade anyone of your views.
Part 3 of 3: Understanding Your Opponent
Step 1. Shut up and listen
The person who talks the most isn't necessarily the one who wins an argument or convinces someone of something. Learning to listen politely is the most underrated method there is for building arguments. While it might not seem like an active way to persuade, taking the time to understand someone else's point of view will allow you to convince them of alternatives. Learn to recognize the goals, opinions, and motivations that guide his or her perspective.
Step 2. Involve your interlocutor politely
Make eye contact, use a steady tone of voice, and keep calm during the discussion. Ask questions and actively practice listening while the other person talks. Never interrupt her in the middle of a sentence and always be polite.
Establishing mutual respect is essential. If a person thinks you don't respect them, they will never be convinced by you, so show them respect and behave correctly to earn it back
Step 3. Identify your interlocutor's objections and motivations
If you know what the other person wants, you are more likely to be able to offer it. When identifying the reasons behind their point of view, rephrase your views in a way that allows your interlocutor to understand you better.
An argument on gun control could focus on broader issues of personal freedom and responsibility. Discuss these issues instead of the actual topic. Ask your opponent questions to get him to notice those same inconsistencies in his thinking that you have caught
Step 4. Earn the other person's trust
Emphasize his point of view and relate to his perspective. Give in on the necessary points, but remember that your goal is to change her mind. If you do a good job and trap her in a logic she can't escape from, you will have persuaded her. If you are a skilled and kind conversationalist, he will accept that it is okay to agree with you and will change his mind.
Advice
- To be able to convince a person of something, make sure you believe in it above all and completely you. If you are trying to persuade someone of a lie, you have to fool yourself to fully believe it in order to be successful. You don't have to have a shadow of a doubt in your mind. When the interlocutor realizes that you hesitate, he will never believe you. On the other hand, if you believe 100% in yourself and your story, this attitude will convey an idea of security during the conversation.
- Opinions fade. You may think you have managed to change someone's mind, but after a couple of days, maybe a week, you realize they are back to where they started.
- Don't force people to change their minds, rather speak logically and politely.
- Always be friendly And respectful, even if the other person doesn't change their mind.
- To fully capture your audience with the gaze, select individuals in the crowd and alternate eye contact during the presentation.
- Dress up with the idea of being successful: you can't sell anything if you don't have the right look.
- Be polite.
- Buy and read books on selling techniques.
Warnings
- Someone will never change their views or opinions, and we all have this right. People have the right to be wrong (or right, as the case may be).
- If your interlocutor is full of prejudices, ask him some sensible questions that lead him to doubt his opinions or to which he cannot answer. Then, explain your ideas logically to him, offering valid reasons. Either way, he decides whether or not to believe your perspective.
- If your interlocutor disagrees with you, don't argue with him. Use clear, logical examples to explain why they should believe your opinion.
