By Georgina El Morshdy

How would your life unravel if you were able to get EXACTLY what you wanted? 

Imagine if more people said YES to your requests and ideas. 
Imagine if you could get more of the right doors to open. 
Imagine if you could secure the opportunities that moved the needle in the direction you want to go. 

Let’s be honest…

It’s a lot harder to achieve your big goals and dreams in isolation. We go further and faster when others support and believe in our vision for life. 

You become more powerful and impactful if you’re able to inspire people to get on the same page as you. 

Which is why persuasion is a powerful piece of the dream-creating jigsaw. 

It’s as actress Jenny Mollen says, “I think the power of persuasion would be the greatest superpower of all time.”

Persuasion is a force that can help you receive more ‘YESES’ in your life. 

It can inspire more people to see the path ahead through your eyes. It can be the reason you get help, support, encouragement, and even favors to make your next steps easier. 

The question is, how can you be persuasive and get your voice heard? 

Keep reading, because this article will show you how…

1. Seek win-win outcomes

If you want more YESES, you have to understand what’s in it for them as well as how you’ll gain. 

Ask yourself, how will they benefit from saying yes to your requests? 

In the words of Zig Ziglar, “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”

If you can create a scenario where both you and the other person wins, you’re far more likely to secure the YESES you desire. 

The art of persuasion is often linked with collaboration - where people work together to achieve a result, and everyone goes away happy. 

Compare this with a win-lose outcome. 

Sure, you may get what you want, but how does the other person feel? Chances are they’ll feel manipulated, forced, or coerced - and it doesn’t feel great to be on the receiving end of any of those things. Yes, you might get the outcome you desire, but chances are you won’t have scored any brownie points for a repeat visit! 

2. Work your know, like, trust factor

Have you noticed how some people seem to be able to get anything they want? There’s just something about them that makes others want to help and offer support. 

Often, this comes down to the likeability factor - and that’s determined by how they make you feel. 

Abraham Lincoln said, “If you wish to win a man over to your ideas, first make him your friend.”

Likeable people are usually friendly, easy to be around, and easy to talk with. They have an ease about who they are, making you feel relaxed and comfortable in their presence. They make you feel good about yourself because they’re interested in what you have to say in a conversation. They may be good listeners, and you get the feeling that they’re genuine and authentic. 

They’re also relatable. They’re happy to let you know who they are so you can strike up the type of connection that comes from discovering common ground. 

You’ll find it easier to persuade if people like you. 

And there are simple things you can do to make people feel good about being around you. Smiling is a big one, as is eye contact. Being able to strike up an effortless conversation can help, too [so make sure you have a selection of ice-breaker questions good to go!] 

3. Feel confident in your requests

The way you present your request determines how it’s received. 

Consider the vibe of someone who lacks confidence, feels unsure of themself, and doesn’t really believe they’re going to get a YES. 

Then compare that vibe to the person who feels certain, sure, and strong in their knowing that the request is beneficial for everyone involved. 

Which one is more likely to get the outcome they want? 

People are drawn to authentic confidence because certainty feels secure. When you’re sure about something [or someone], it’s easier to have trust in who they are. Confidence is also connected with expertise [which links back to that all-important know, like, trust factor]. 

I know, super cheesy, but you are worth it. Your dreams matter. 

The good news is that confidence and self-belief are skills you can cultivate. Both are like muscles that get stronger each time you flex them. 

4. Be persistent

What happens if you get a no? 

Do you instantly back down or look for ways to reframe your argument? 

Sure, there’s a balance between manipulation and persuasion. Sometimes a no will be a hard no meaning there’s no scope for another request. 

Other times, people may need a little more persuasion before they’re fully on board. 

You need to make the judgement call. Is it time to thank them and move on? Or do you change your approach and offer up a different argument or perspective to see if a new angle works more effectively? 

We’ve all heard stories of people who didn’t give up. JK Rowling’s original pitch for Harry Potter got rejected 12 times before she got a YES. Sylvester Stallone turned down $300,000 in 1976 because he was adamant that he played Rocky in the movie he wrote. 

Sometimes persistence [coupled with a dose of self-belief] is enough to secure the YESES you desire. Steve Jobs said, “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”

5. Learn some persuasive tricks

So far, we’ve talked about things you can do in your approach to be more persuasive. 

But did you know there are also a series of simple, but powerful tricks you can master to take your persuasive gifts to the next level? 

We recently partnered with Max Klymenko, who’s been teaching people on TikTok how to be more persuasive. His edutainment videos have had millions of views, and he’s had thousands of feedback messages too. 

The NEW Persuasion Deck contains 33 of Max’s tried-and-tested persuasion tricks. Master them, and you’ll become a persuasive beast who gets more YESES in your life.  

In this age of digital and social media, your ability to collaborate, forge authentic connections, and inspire people onto the same page as you is powerful. 

Persuasion over manipulation will pay dividends every time. 

And in the process, more of your goals and dreams will come true.