Looking To Persuade? Put Yourself In The Other Person’s Shoes

How do you know if you are trying too hard to persuade someone on some issue?

When you are trying to get the other person to do something that is of interest to you primarily.

True persuasion is when you try to get someone to do something that you genuinely believe is of value and interest to the other person and you. When you start by looking at the other person’s interests, you are in a state to persuade.

In contrast, if all you are thinking about is your own self-interest, understand that you are not in the conversation to persuade; you are in the conversation to manipulate.

What is of interest to the other person, what matters to him, is there something bothering her? If you don’t make an effort to understand the other person’s perspective, there is no way you can persuade anyone.

Remember, all manner of persuasion starts with taking into account the other person’s interest.

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. This is the first principle if you are looking to persuade anyone on any matter.