Maximize Your Influence

Trust is critical in persuasion. Unfortunately, we live in a day and age when people are more skeptical and mistrustful than ever before. Twenty years ago, the mindset was: "I trust you; give me a reason not to." Now the mindset is: "I don't trust you; give me a reason why I should." You could say trust is at an all-time low and still falling. Stanford researchers study trust in autonomous product...

One of the major distinctions between mediocre persuaders and highly successful persuaders is the amount of talking they do and the number of questions they ask. We have found that great persuaders ask 2.7 more questions of their audience than average persuaders do. Want to know what questions to ask when you are attempting to influence?  Discover how to change a conversation and persuade under th...

Learn how to be prepared to handle hecklers and those that will ask the tough questions.  Learn to connect on a personal and emotional level.  Make sure every member of that audience feels like you are talking to them.  Practice your presentation so it becomes part of you, instead of a slick PowerPoint or a tired outline.   Manage your fear, anxiety or nervousness, so you can radiate charisma.  Ho...

So how can you use subconscious triggers and options to be more persuasive?  What do you need to understand about these triggers that are hurting your sales?  How can you persuade better and faster understanding why we do, what we do?  Join me for this week's podcast and discover The 10 Psychological Techniques (And Tips) To Sell More And Persuade Faster.   Pausing Before Replying Decreases Percei...

One of the biggest challenges we face is that we think, and our audience thinks, we are logical creatures. But most of the time, we don't know why we do what we do. In fact, up to 95 percent of persuasion and influence involves a subconscious trigger. This tendency means that inclinations like "It just feels right," "I trust this person," or "I don't like this person" are all based on subconscious...

To maintain order of the world, our brains link objects, gestures, and symbols with our feelings, memories, and life experiences.  We mentally associate ourselves with such things as sights, sounds, colors, music, and symbols.  These associations create quick subconscious triggers.  The feelings you generate can help or hurt your ability to persuade.   You could be using symbols that are repelling...

What can you do in the first thirty seconds of your encounter to capture your audience's attention?  Can you prove to them that you are worth listening to?  Think about this: Every time you communicate with someone, they are paying with either time or money.   Do you want to know how to magnetize your message?  Get and keep the attention of your prospects?  Ever thought about how to brand and posi...

Did you know that cost is often the first objection raised, but usually it's not the true reason for rejecting a product or service?  Whether you're selling an actual physical product to consumers or an idea to your stubborn teenager, there is always a price involved. Want to know how to make price a non-issue?  Want to know how to charge more and help your prospects be more successful?  Want to g...

As humans, (when we listen) we have the ability to read people from facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice, or even a smell.  This comes from our early programming as humans to be able to meet a person and instantly decide if they are a friend or foe. Want to know how to make better decisions and use your intuition?  Want to know what changes are happening with your prospect and customers?  E...

Voice plays a critical role in influence.   Our voice is a powerful instrument that can motivate the troops or lull them to sleep. There is a huge difference between presenting and persuading, informing and influencing, and communicating and convincing. Want to know how to grab attention and increase the influence of your voice?  Ever felt your voice was not very impactful?  Listen to this week's...

Want to know how to create dissonance?  Ever want to change someone's mind?  Have you ever wanted to change someone's beliefs about politics?  The key is to get them to persuade themselves.  Listen to this week's podcast on How To Change Someone's Political View Point – Influencing Minds.

I had a great interview with the author of The Hype Handbook on this week's podcast.  Hype is important (when used correctly) to grab attention and get people to focus on you or your product/service.  If you don't get noticed and get them engaged – you can't persuade them. Want to create more excitement for you or your product/service?  Listen to this week's podcast as I interview the author of th...

Do you think color is important in the world of persuasion?  The answer is absolutely.  What Super Productive People Do Differently Want to get more techniques on how to use color to influence?  How to manage your time using Harvard time management hacks?  Find out how Covid affects your ability to influence.  How to discover their true pain?  Join me for this week's podcast on What Are The Most P...

Almost everyone wants to accomplish their dreams, achieve more, change their habits, or pursue bigger and better goals. And we often know exactly what we need to do to make these things happen.  So why don't we do them?  Why do we fall short of our dreams and aspirations?   Want to understand the science of getting yourself (or others) to change?  Do you want to get more techniques on the power of...

Of all the tools in your persuasion toolbox, strategic questioning is probably the one most often used by Power Persuaders.  Questions are used in the persuasion process to create mental involvement, to guide the conversation and to find out your prospect pain. The Neuroscience of Trust Want to get more techniques on how to find your prospect's pain?  How to discover their true problem?  Get them...

Most people waste the majority of the day because of their inability to focus and concentrate.  It is difficult to influence others if you cannot stay focused or are unable to work on the current task.  Do you want to know the latest research on top persuaders?  Ever wonder how technology can help/hurt your influence?  Do you want to manage your time better?  Join me for this week's podcast on New...

How To Persuade UNDER The Radar The best way to reduce resistance and help your prospect persuade themselves is by using a story.  Stories are powerful tools for persuaders.  Compelling storytelling automatically creates attention and involvement with your audience.   Want to master the art and science of telling an engaging story while you persuade without detection?  Ever wonder how to structure...

Great persuaders have mastered their fears. You will be tempted to leave your fears buried, but they will invariably come back to haunt you. It is much better to deal with fears directly, especially considering that whatever we fear most is never as bad as we think. Want to know more about your prospect being scared to make a decision?  Why people delay saying yes?  How fear can be instantly overc...

Crazy times right now where people just can't get along or even have a discussion about society or politics.  Most people forget that the human brain needs to be right. It is hard for us to admit we are wrong.  Even if we are shown proof that we are wrong. We are programmed to justify what we are doing or thinking is right and avoid taking responsibility when things go wrong. It is easier for us t...

Are you a Seinfeld fan?  Have you seen the episode of the close talker ?  Is that you?  Are you sure?  Do you know others that consistently violate your space?  Let's talk about proxemics or the science of space. Do you want to discover additional insights and techniques on space, touch, handshakes and what repels others?   If you want to get more persuasion tools - listen to this week's podcast o...

It is impossible to talk about time management and not end up talking about procrastination. Why is the tendency to procrastinate so prevalent? We know it does us no good, and yet it plagues even the best of us. Putting things off until the last minute never gives the best results.   Tell tale signs your coworkers despise you Do you want to know additional insights and techniques on how to manage...

Do you want to know additional insights and techniques on how to program your mind for success?  How to thrive in strange and different times?  If you want to know more than listen to this week's podcast with my guest Chad Hymas.  Discover your motivation, renew your hope, and be inspired by the Phil Mickelson Story.

I am not going to be politically correct today.  I know it is not fair.  I know we should not judge, I am here to help you with reality.  Everyone judges your online photo and some things you can fix – some you can't. Focus on the things you can improve and don't worry about the rest.  Let's talk about the Halo Effect. It operates by making one positive characteristic of a person alter other peopl...

Influential people have excellent communication skills that captive, inspire and rivet the audience.  They can articulate their vision and make that vision come alive in the audience's mind.  It is like listening to a movie, they have created a mental picture so strong that it feels real.  Why some people lie to appear more honest Do you want to know how to use Edutainment (Education + Entertainme...

How do great persuaders prepare their minds for success?   The mental aspect of the game is one of the most important (and usually most neglected) traits of success. This mind training or self-persuasion is what gives great persuaders the psychological edge.  It's true that "you'll only achieve it once the mind believes it."  By "programming" our minds, we dictate our future. It's just that simple...