Trust me, it’s not easy! And sometimes it doesn’t work at all.
But while doing research for my book on how to produce more memorable writing, I stumbled upon these “mind shift” ideas from multiple sources.
Remember, I’m a writer, not a psychologist. Therefore, the methods shown here mostly come from writers and speakers who have successfully altered perceptions through persuasive presentations and reports.
1. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes: Ask questions to find out why someone has a completely different opinion than you.
2. Ask that person to expand their position. Are your opponent’s opinions based on factual data or second-hand or disputed information that could be challenged?
3. If that person’s views are based on data, is the source of that data credible?
4. What common positions do you hold? Politicians can often win a hostile audience by first discussing the values they all share. If we can agree on common goals, perhaps readers/listeners will follow us when we lead them down new paths.
5. Can any position be compromised? In negotiations, I often give up a small point to show my willingness to compromise.
6. Point out the best points on your side. Remember the fence-painting episode of “Tom Sawyer”? Tom makes his homework look so enticing that his friends offer him all sorts of prizes if he lets them participate.
7. Speaking of “good points”: Sometimes the negotiation can turn into a “listing” contest. Can you reinforce your position by listing a number of positive aspects of your proposal? Example: “Ten Reasons Why You Should Vote for Proposition A.”