Influencing people and having an impact on their decisions is a skill needed in powerful leadership. In every industry, leaders are required to convince their employees to get the work done and have an agreement frame built to avoid conflicts and delays in projects. When done the right way, this agreement can lead to compliance which is beneficial for productive sessions in an organization.
Although this influence comes naturally to some, for many it’s not an easy skill to master. It requires time to build up starting with the small steps. Here are 5 tips to help you influence others to say “Yes”:
1. Authority
Showing authority and position in the chain of command can greatly influence people to say yes to the request. In organizations, leaders and managers can ask with the authority they have over the employees to get the work done and influence employees to say yes. This of course doesn’t mean overpowering employees.
2. Appear confident
Convincing people to say yes is all about self-confidence and if you are confident in your communication skills to deliver the idea well. This plays an important role to impact your employees and make them say yes. The opposite person will only be confident or give the idea a second guess if you appear confident in your delivery and stand on your words.
3. A relatable reference
It is very human to be influenced by real-life references, and say yes to suggestions and ideas we can relate to. If you want to get someone to say yes, you need to provide evidence to get to your point. This basically helps them understand whether this has worked well for someone before or not. You would often be required to give your reference story before suggesting the real idea.
4. Show gratitude
It’s natural to feel more inclined to help people who show gratitude for your efforts and are polite to you. Find ways to appreciate their efforts in order to convince them to say yes.
In most cases, it doesn’t have to be the same person you are appreciated, the fact that you show gratitude and maintain a positive attitude toward their efforts will do just fine to convince and influence their decision.
5. Don’t Argue
The last thing you want to do to influence and have an impact on their decision is to argue. Arguments often lead to fire in the opposite direction.
Even if you do not reach an agreement, you don’t have to make decisions instantly. Give yourself the time to find a way around instead of reasoning or arguing for what you know won’t benefit you or help you impact the decision to make them say yes.
Final words
Influencing people to say yes is not a do-and-done process, it requires time and skills to make sure you impact their decisions rightly for good. Follow the above techniques to successfully become a powerful leader by influencing others’ decisions to say yes.
