How to Influence and Persuade: 3 Ways to Build Your Conversational Skills

How to Influence and Persuade: 3 Ways to Build Your Conversational Skills

In the digital age, we have access to a world of information with a few keystrokes. This makes it easier than ever before to find out what we need to know on almost any topic. From how to remove yellowing from clothes to how to balance redox in your aquarium tank; if you want to know about it, you can find out in seconds. The only problem is that not everyone is willing to share this information readily. Whether you are trying to get co-workers on board with a new project or trying to sell your services as a freelance consultant, some people aren’t as easy to convince as others.

You may be thinking: How do I increase my chances of persuading someone? What can I do so they are more likely to agree with me? How can I make them trust me more? These are all good questions – and fortunately, there are ways you can improve your skills when it comes to getting other people on board with your ideas and plans. Here are three tips for building your conversational skills and increasing your persuasive abilities:

Build trust before making your pitch #

When you are trying to make a pitch, it can be helpful to think about it as an exchange: You are trying to convince someone to give you something – whether that be their time or money. If you want them to part with something, then you need to give them something in return. If you are trying to persuade a potential client to give you their business, you don’t want to walk up to them and say, “Give me your money!” Before you ask for anything, you need to have something to offer. If you want to increase your chances of persuading someone, it’s a good idea to build a sense of trust first. Trust is a feeling that a person can rely on you to do what you say you’re going to do.

If someone trusts you, they are more likely to agree to what you’re asking for, whether that’s agreeing to a new project or agreeing to hire you for a job. Before you start pitching ideas to people, make sure they trust you first. If they trust you, they are more likely to see your side and agree with you. If they don’t trust you, then you’re going to have a much harder time convincing them of anything. How do you build trust? It’s not something that happens overnight – and it’s not something that you can force. Building trust takes time, but there are a few things you can do to speed things up. For example: Try to be consistent in the way you present yourself. If you have a consistent style, it’s easier for people to trust you.

Ask questions and learn more about the other person #

People naturally don’t like being sold to. No one likes being told what to do or what service or product they should use, and it doesn’t make them feel good to be talked down to. That’s why it’s important to remember that the best way to persuade someone is by making them feel like they came to that decision themselves. The easiest way to do that is by asking questions. When you are pitching a new project or trying to sell a client on your services, you want to be sure you’re pitching the right project to the right person.

After all, you don’t want to spend weeks working on a project only to find out that the client doesn’t want or need what you’ve done. Instead of pitching the project, ask the client what they would like. Ask questions like, “What do you hope to accomplish?” or “What are your goals?” or “What are your biggest challenges right now?” Then, when you start to pitch your project, you can tailor your pitch to the client’s needs. By asking questions and getting to know the person you’re pitching to, you’re more likely to find out what they want and need – and they are more likely to agree with your suggestions.

Don’t be afraid to adjust your pitch based on feedback #

When you’re pitching a new project or trying to sell your services as a freelance consultant, there are a few ways the conversation can go: The client may instantly like your idea. The client may instantly dislike your idea. The client may like your idea – but have some feedback for you. The client may dislike your idea – but have some feedback for you. No matter what direction the conversation goes in, you need to be prepared to adjust your pitch based on the feedback you get.

It’s easy to get caught up in your own pitch and get defensive if the client doesn’t like it right away. It’s also easy to get frustrated when the client doesn’t understand what you’re trying to say. Remember, though, that the client is coming to you as a beginner. They don’t know your field as well as you do – and they don’t know how you want to approach the project as well as you do. That’s why it’s important to keep an open mind when you’re getting feedback. Be prepared to adjust your pitch and your approach based on what the client is saying. After all, you want to make sure you get the results the client is looking for.

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