When you read this list, notice how much you already know to begin with and add to your knowledge. To even want to read this shows that you are smart and want to be smarter.
1. Don’t want anything.
The more you want something, the needier you become. Desperation sets in. The person you originally wanted to influence will become suspicious that you might have an agenda of your own not to that person’s advantage. This causes suspicion and reduced influence. Not only that, in the case of deal making, you will just have reduced the value you will get.
Set your needs aside for a moment. Consider what is in the best interests of the person you wish to influence. In most situations you will wish to influence that person again. If what you suggest is not beneficial to that person he or she will remember and it will count against you in the future.
In fairness you may want something to begin with, but considering the benefit or not to the other person gives the foundation for a longer, and ultimately, much better for you relationship. So if the thing you want turns out to be “not such a good idea”, you will find that your detachment will free your mind to consider new and probably superior options.
2. Like the person you are influencing.
Please try and do some scientific tests on this subject. Notice your level of influence when:
You like the person you are communicating with.
You dislike the person you are communicating with.
This is obvious, yet your excuses for not following this simple guide will only demonstrate the many possibilities for self-justification.
You know when someone is warm to you. The person you wish to influence will know if you are warm. It is difficult to escape this. This is why step 1 is to “not want anything”. If you have predicable dislikes, they get in the way. Anything that gets in the way reduces your influence. So resolve your dislikes beforehand.
3. Make sure the person you are influencing likes and trust’s you.
By your following the effective strategy describes so far you are arriving at a position where the person you wish to influence is achieving a good connection with you. But sometimes trust gets in the way. So this tip is more about what to do if something does get in your way.
Most of the time, the easiest way for you to address difficult points is to tackle them head on. For example, you may have recommended something in the past which turned out to be a failure. Half the time the failure will be down to the other person trying some variation of your suggestion which meant that it could never have succeeded. Either way, discussing such matters is much easier than skirting round them. Get your own ego out of the way, be brave, and have open honest discussions. It clears your way forward or in extreme case makes you realise that perhaps there is no easy way forward at all at this time…. Save unnecessary effort.
4. Would the other person like to arrive at the solution themselves.
I personally gave my own brother years of hard labour by showing him the best way to put screws into wood: use a power screw driver / drill. In the days when power screw driver / drills where just becoming available I showed him how much time and effort it would save him. But because he wanted to make that discovery himself, by my getting there first he had no ownership and could not bring himself to follow someone else’s idea / observation. This was not my intention, but I did learn from my mistake. Incidentally, when my brother finally forgot what I showed him, he rediscovered it for himself and now lets machinery do the work for him. But that took three years.
The easiest way for you to succeed is to ask a series of helpful questions.
Try to avoid being aloof or all knowing.
People are instantly very attached to their own creativity. Aim to help the other person recognise what you already know without then going “Now you have got it last”. That has the effect of devaluing the discovery and making that person now wish to arrive at some solution you would not necessarily wish for.
5. Give yourself options
If you wondered how you were going to function with point 1 “Don’t want anything”, this is the solution. If you think you don’t have any options then you are just reacting. Just reacting means you are not in control of yourself and you are most probably the one being influenced.
For example, suppose you are going on holiday and you arrive at the airport to find your trip cancelled. You could argue with the holiday company representative about how much you want to go to your chosen destination. But if the resort is unavailable because of some major calamity you won’t get far. However, the rep may be able to authorise alternatives. So keep looking for alternatives until you find something that is better than your original holiday. Now you have good options.
The strategy is simple. Stay focused on the big picture. In reality you will often have to adopt alternatives. If you get lost in details you will probably not get what you want. A great holiday in the above example.
IMPORTANT: I am making this point again because you need to apply this. Remain aware of the big picture of what you want. Then stop pushing yourself to achieve it (see more on step 10). Don’t get lost in details. Notice how you will normally be offered the thing you want when you are not demanding them. Be alert to the many options that will present themselves.