Which tactics do you usually use to influence others (and which does your partner use on you)? The team at Mindgym list 9 tactics we  You might find there’s a mismatch on what you use and what influences them and there may be some that you use at the detriment of others.

Try this exercise twice:

• Which tactics do YOU use?
• Which tactics does your partner or boss use?

1. Reason

“there are three excellent reasons why contemporary art is a worthwhile investment. First …”
Reason is about facts, logic, and arguments to make a case.

Take care when a view is presented as a fact without evidence (“This problem is going to take a long time to resolve”)

2. Inspire

“Imagine a world where …”
Inspiring focuses on the heart rather than the head; it appeals to emotions and suggests what could be, if only the other person could be persuaded. It is not just about what you say but how you say it – with passion energy and conviction

3. Ask

“Would you like to be rich?”
Uses questions to encourage the other persons to make their own way to your conclusion. This is one of the hardest tactics to use because it is impossible to know how the other person will responds. Too broad and veer off course too narrow and they’ll feel coerced.

4. Feel Good

You’re a smart guy
If we feel positively towards someone we are much more likely to agree with them and we almost always feel good about ourselves

Using a feel good on someone who clearly has more power than you can look like sucking up.

5. Deal

“If you pick me up from the airport, I will”
Dealing is when we offer or give the other person something in return for their agreement. This may be explicit, but it doesn’t have to be. It works by appealing to the desire for fairness. Some people can ‘take, take, take without feeling any remorse or indebtedness’. It won’t work with them unless they are very up front with the terms of the exchange.

6. Favour

Can you help me out
It’s about asking for something simply because you want or need it  

7. Silent Allies

Everyone who has read this book so far …
This refers to the views of other people, generally those similar to the person you are trying to persuade. This is often useful for teenagers and peer pressure.

But people can be put off by popularity and some people prefer the contrary.

8. Authority

It’s our policy not to refund cash
Authority is used from a position of power or by appealing to a rule or principle. It doesn’t matter whether it is formal or implicit, so long as the source of the power is recognised by the person whom you are trying to influence.

9. Force

Do it or else
Force requires assertive behaviour such as threats and warnings. Because it is relatively easy to adopt, and it usually delivers short-term results, i.e. compliance, it gets used a far bit. It is addictive as it gives the user a sense of power – but only use this when everything else has failed.

My Influencing Tactics

Save Print

• Reason
• Inspire
• Ask
  Feel Good
• Deal
• Favour
• Silent Allies
• Authority
• Force

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For More Information and how to do this with groups and teams try the Mind Gym website:

https://uk.themindgym.com/