“Breaking the mirror” is a term used to describe how lawyers intentionally disrupt the psychological connection, or rapport, with a witness on the stand. That disconnect is also called antipathy. During questioning, attorneys may initially mirror the witness’s tone, energy, rate, and body language to connect and build trust but then strategically b…

The importance of the RAS in persuasion extends to various fields, from marketing and advertising to public speaking and education. By leveraging the power of the RAS, persuaders can enhance their ability to keep their prospect’s attention and motivate them to action. Understanding and utilizing the RAS is critical to involvement and making a lasti…

Influencers use closing skills to guide potential customers in making a decision. Effective closing skills ensure both the salesperson and the customer feel confident about the purchase, minimize resistance, and create a smooth transition to get the YES. Closing skills also enable salespeople to address last-minute objections and encourage customer…

Credibility is based on 3 things: your knowledge, track record, and appearance. What it comes down to is that you are believable and have the expertise to make things happen or solve their challenge. The perception could be based on your demeanor, mannerisms, or dress. Rage clicks - Study shows how political outrage fuels social media engagement If…

Praise and compliments can backfire or be disbelieved for several reasons, especially when perceived as fake or insincere. Here are the top 4 reasons why praise could backfire on you. That ‘Compliment’ Might Actually Be Offensive Praise must be genuine, specific, and aligned with reality to be effective and credible. Overpraising or manipulating th…

Identifying whether someone is a narcissist requires looking for key behaviors and personality traits that align with narcissistic tendencies Why You Should Sleep on it Before Making an Important Decision Finding a narcissist involves looking for patterns of behavior that revolve around self-importance, lack of empathy, and manipulative tendencies.…

Numerous studies have been conducted on the impact of scent and fragrances on association. A study conducted among undergraduate students found that female students wearing perfume were rated more attractive by male students. Scents were even found to improve scores on job evaluations. Of course, offensive odors can also be used (and have been used…

This Law of Persuasion states that the more skillful a person is in the use of language, the more persuasive they are. Words affect our perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and emotions. Language misused will trigger the wrong response and decrease your ability to persuade. All words have emotional meanings that are different from their dictionary defi…

Fear comes from uncertainty, financial challenges, past experience, or the fear of making a wrong decision. So, how do you switch them from fear to focus? Horror films offer a psychological thrill ride When you shift the emotional energy from fear and doubt to confidence and anticipation, you will close the sale and leave your prospect feeling good…

Whether you’re meeting someone for the first time, closing a business deal, or deepening a personal relationship, your body language is crucial in establishing rapport and trust - or inadvertently causing resistance. Understanding and mastering these nonverbal signals can transform how you connect with others. Here’s how to recognize the signs that…

EQ, or Emotional Intelligence, refers to the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and influence your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is a crucial aspect of relationships, influence, and leadership. Unlike IQ, which is relatively stable throughout life, EQ can be developed and improved through practice and self-awareness. Emotional …

Have you ever witnessed someone lose their temper over a hotel room upgrade? It happened to me while traveling with a famous personal development speaker who shall remain nameless. After a long day, we arrived late at night for our speaking engagement, and He asked the clerk for an upgrade. She politely declined, which didn't go over well. 6 Reason…

FOMO has gained significant traction in the digital age, where social media and online marketing amplify our awareness of what others are doing, buying, or experiencing. This heightened awareness can lead to a powerful emotional response, driving people to purchase or engage in activities they might otherwise pass on. The Psychology Behind FOMO (Fe…

Obligation has been used as a persuasive technique since the beginning of time. We see companies offering free downloads, free estimates, or gifts in the hope of opening the door to persuasion. The Law of Obligation, also known as pre-giving or reciprocity, states that when others do something for us, we feel a strong need, or urge, to return the f…

I was reading this great article in Harvard Business Review, which focuses on how we CAN’T recognize our weaknesses. The other challenge is that most people feel responsible for their successes (internal), and external factors are the cause of their failures. Leaders and managers today must be more aware of others’ needs due to the challenges of a …

Can you influence others to be part of a team? Are you a leader or a manager? What is the difference? A manager, you do things because you have to. A leader, you do things because you want to. So, what type of leader are you? Each type of leadership has different benefits and drawbacks. Each leadership style will depend on your personality, culture…

Have you ever felt like all eyes were focused on you after a social mishap, a presentation, or a wardrobe malfunction? That's the Spotlight Effect in action, where we overestimate how much others notice our actions, mistakes, and appearance. Psychologist Thomas Gilovich's research highlights this part of humanity with an interesting experiment. Hav…

Just showing up and winging it, destroys your confidence and ability to seal the deal. Preparation lays the foundation for a successful negotiation. Thorough preparation allows negotiators to understand their goals, identify their tools, and establish clear objectives. Scent of a friend: Similarities in body odor may contribute to social bonding Do…

Military interrogators worldwide are like skilled chess players, understanding human psychology to uncover valuable information. They don’t rely on luck but on calculated strategy. Let's dive into the world of interrogators. Going to bed after this time could lead to poorer mental health, a Stanford study finds Can you use these techniques to persu…

The Law of Dissonance proves that people will naturally act in a manner that is consistent with their cognitions. What is a cognition? Our cognition is a mental process that uses thoughts, beliefs, experiences, and past perceptions. That means when people behave in a manner that is inconsistent with these cognitions (beliefs, thoughts or values), t…

We all need more appointments, and we all want more of them. How do we get more appointments or interviews? The key is to eliminate the things you are doing that are getting you that, NO, that dang rejection. These simple changes will improve your chances of getting that appointment/interview Nearly 4 in 10 employers avoid hiring recent college gra…

Do you repel people? Are you being offensive, pushing too hard, or saying the wrong things? As I interview prospects who have said no, the responses I get are interesting. They told you it was too expensive, and they toldl me I did not trust them. Statistics show that this is happening to you. Let’s get into some of these complaints and things you …

Who's the better persuader? Is it the lively Extroverts thriving on social energy? Or maybe the contemplative Introverts harnessing the power of introspection? Could it be the versatile Ambiverts, navigating seamlessly between both worlds? Or perhaps the enigmatic Omniverts, fluctuating between the extremes? Rethinking the Extraverted Sales Ideal -…

Twenty years ago, a team led by Giacomo Rizzolatti at the University of Parma in Italy made a radical discovery: mirror neurons. These specialized brain cells were found in Macaque Monkeys and would activate when the monkey performed an action and when it observed another monkey performing the same action. Mere agreement A similarity-based persuasi…

Recognizing manipulation can be easy to identify - if you know the signs. Listen to this episode too learn about some indicators that may indicate you are being manipulated. More feelings of misinformation more news avoidance fake new So, how do you know if you are being manipulated? Why do people manipulate? How do you handle a manipulator? Join m…