Guest post by Karen Keller (learn more about Karen at the end of this post)
We go about our days figuring out how we can truly influence people and affect change in their lives. But are we missing the key to the art of persuasion?
It begins with persuading yourself. And beyond persuading – owning the perspective. When we set out to be influential, we can’t seek to influence if we don’t own our own ideas lock, stock and barrel.
The art of persuasion is truly an art. It involves finessing our personal behaviors and thought processes, changing the way we think and integrating a new set of concepts into our own lives so completely that sharing becomes second nature. We can teach, mentor and offer guidance because we’ve lived through these behavioral changes ourselves. We’re authentic because we own the transformation and the ideologies behind the change.
Now, we’ve all met someone along our paths that seems…not quite genuine. Like they say one thing and do another or are trying to sell us a bill of goods without really buying into what they’ve got for sale. To be a master at the art of persuasion, we have to believe so completely in what we share that there’s not a hint of doubt in our voices as we extol the benefits of the sea change we’re sharing. Do you want to be a huckster or a mentor?
Today, your action task is simple: take a look at your business and determine three areas in which you’re not completely convinced. Maybe it’s how you handle your finances or a piece of marketing material that makes you look twice. What can you do to these three things you’ve identified to persuade yourself to believe? If something is missing, be honest with yourself about what it is and take the first step to own those tings more fully. It begins with us, so why not begin now?
About Karen Keller
Karen Keller is an expert in women’s leadership and assertiveness training. She can be found at www.karen-keller.com.
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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