How to Become More Persuasive at Work

The Nugget

Persuasion tactics involve building influence at work by understanding the power of warm competence, pre-selling ideas, reading non-verbal cues, and showing persuadability.

Key quotes

"So, I definitely hear some elements of the difference between the way we use stereotypes to understand people we don’t know well."
"So, the best way, unfortunately, to sort of counteract that is to couple your expressions of competence with something warm."
"I think the ways to break habits are either to make them more automatic, right?"
"I give a little, you give a little."
"We really have this sort of need for closure and to feel effective when we’re trying to persuade someone."

Stereotypes play a significant role in how others perceive our authority, especially in male-dominated industries.
Coupling expressions of competence with warmth can combat the perception of arrogance and coldness.
Women may struggle to assert their authority and need to actively showcase their expertise without downplaying their achievements.

Pre-selling ideas before formal presentations can increase receptiveness and cooperation in meetings.
Breaking habits, like hitting "reply all," requires changing default behaviors or establishing new norms within the group.

In persuasion, observing non-verbal cues can provide insights into someone's receptiveness to ideas.
Demonstrating persuadability and adaptability can foster reciprocity and cooperation from others during discussions.

Patience and giving others space to digest information can lead to more effective persuasion over time.
Asking questions and seeking to understand others' perspectives can uncover barriers to persuasion and help tailor future approaches.

Reciprocity in persuasion involves giving a little to receive cooperation and commitment from others.
Following up on discussions with gentle check-ins can maintain momentum and keep important topics top-of-mind.

💡 Pre-sell ideas before meetings for better receptiveness.
💡 Breaking habits requires changing defaults or establishing new norms.
💡 Ask open-ended questions to gauge receptiveness effectively.
💡 Demonstrating persuadability through adaptability fosters reciprocity and cooperation.

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.