In our day to day business lives, we regularly want to be more persuasive. You may want approval from your boss for a new project; with clients you want them interested in buying from you; with investors you want them to back your new fund.

While each of these situations is different, you can use tried and tested persuasive techniques in all of them.
 

These are some of the techniques from the BBA Persuasion Toolkit that we share with clients who want to be more persuasive:

1. Do plenty of research

   The more you know about those you are persuading the better. Even when meeting strangers, you can research online about them, their business and their industry so you better understand their concerns. You may also find a connection to the person you are meeting – a key part of being persuasive.

2. Ask questions

   The more questions you ask (and the better those questions) the more you will know about those you are trying to persuade. And of course along with asking good questions, you need to listen carefully. What are they saying?  What are they not saying?  You will learn from their answers how to pitch yourself.

3. Acknowledge their doubts

   When you understand them and where they are coming from, you will have a better idea of what may prevent them from agreeing with your idea. A powerful persuasive technique is to talk about their doubts, agree with them, and then show how these doubts are not the main issue in making a decision.

4. Solve their problems

   Everyone has problems. To be very persuasive you need to find their problems. And these may not be obvious ones. They could be problems of recognition, of status, of uncertainty. When you understand their issues (because you have asked the right questions, and listened to them carefully) you will have a much better idea of how to solve them.

5. Regularly check their position

   The worst pitch is when you do all the speaking. Show how well you are listening by regularly checking back to show you understand what the other person is saying. Repeat back what they said, and test your understanding of their concerns. And then ask more questions. That will help push you forward.

Start your journey to world-class communication skills now

Download our free ebook: Five Steps to Improve your Leadership Talks. It’s full of practical tips and insightful quotes that will help you make immediate improvements to your communication skills, including:

• Increased confidence when you talk and present.
• Improved ability to persuade your audience.
• Greater engagement with your audience.
• Practical ways to plan and structure your talks.
• The inspiration and motivation to change.

Click here to download your complimentary copy of the ebook now.

Do you want to be more persuasive? Do you want to increase your chances of winning a pitch or bit of business? If so, talk to us.

We have developed a robust toolbox of persuasive techniques to help you deliver more engaging and persuasive pitches. In just a few short hours we’ll work with you to polish your pitch, prepare your meeting or refine your persuasive style. You can work on a specific persuasive situation or strengthen skills that will live with you all your life.

Speak to Louise on 020 7018 0922 or email louise@nullbenjaminball.com to discuss how we can help you become more persuasive.