What is persuasion?
We're going to take a look at a definition of persuasion, explain what it's not and where you might see it in your life.
So let's get into it.
Today we're going to look at this concept of persuasion, from the standpoint of communication. If I boil it down, a basic definition of persuasion is the process of using
spoken or written direct or indirect message to change into another person's attitude, beliefs or behaviors about something.
In the field of communication, the study of persuasion goes back 2,500 years to Aristotle and even before him, He wrote an entire book on it called Rhetoric.
This traditional approach studies, how we craft our arguments and support our position with hard evidence, sound reasoning, and demonstrate our credibility and engaged listeners emotions to bring their view from where they are now.
Now keep in mind, persuasion doesn't require completely changing somebody's mind 180 degrees. There are many times when listeners don't yet have a strong opinion or a persuasive messages meant to change somebody's mind, just a few notches on the scale.
In its most basic form persuasion involves three components, a speaker sharing a message to persuade an audience. Persuasive communication skills can be learned. And if you've ever take a public speaking class, it's very likely your teacher assigned you a persuasive speech at the end of the semester.
Now there's a little bit of risk involved in persuasive speaking because your listeners might not be convinced. They might not agree with you as well.
But persuasion also happens in almost all areas of public, professional and personal life. Like have you ever ha to convince your parents to loan you a car or persuade your boss to say yes to some request or attempt to convince a friend to vote for your favorite candidate? You very likely put som thoughts into that message. So it had a better shot of persuading them.
Let's briefly talk abou what persuasion is not, first persuasion is not forcing or threatening
or compelling somebody to do what you want them to do. That's coercion not persuasion.
Second persuasion is not th same as manipulating, lying or tricking people. Persuasion assumes that listeners are in a position to make a real choice.
And third and here's where it gets interesting to me. Persuasion is also not communicating an inspirational or motivational message to listeners who already agree with you. That's what we sometimes call preaching to the choir. A persuasive message is meant to change listener's minds attitudes, or behaviors.
So there has to be some possibility that listener's minds will be changed at least a little. So question of the day, how do you feel about persuasive communication?
Do you enjoy it or avoid it?
Now, clearly there's lots more to persuasive communication than we can cover in one article.
Until next time God bless and I'll see you soon.