How to Change Somebody?s Mind

Believe me, it's not easy! And sometimes, it doesn't work at all.

But while researching my book on how to produce more memorable writing, I stumbled upon these "mind changing" ideas from multiple sources.

Remember, I'm a writer, not a psychologist. So the methods shown here come mostly from writers and speakers who've successfully altered perceptions through presentations and persuasive reports.

1. Wear the other person's shoes ? Ask questions to find out why someone holds a completely different view from yours.

2. Ask that person to amplify his/her position ? Are your opponent's views based on actual data, or on disputed or second-hand information that might 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 values everyone shares. If we can agree on common goals, perhaps readers/listeners will follow us when we lead them down new pathways.

5. Can some position be compromised? In negotiations, I often give away a small point in order to show willingness to arrive at an agreement.

6. Point out your side's best points. Remember the fence-painting episode from "Tom Sawyer"? Tom makes his task seem so appealing his friends offer him all sorts of prizes if he'll let them participate.

7. Speaking of "good points" ? Sometimes negotiation can become a "listing" contest. Can you reinforce your position by listing a number of positive things about your proposal? Example: "Ten reasons you should vote for Proposition A."

Rix Quinn offers lots of writing and persuasive ideas in his book "Words That Stick." It's available from your local bookstore, or http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN /1580085768/qid/

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/11/21/2008-11-21_skelos_silver_smith_and_tedisco_are_to_b.htmlcid=1271667877ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNGDzoMRCgX_FRTRNKn3_BO2WSASIAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=gqzZQO3VizEJimgurl=assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/11/21/amd_paterson-meeting.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2New York Daily News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/9343cid=1271667877ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNESX9whwBreyLEtJ0_qPPzY3IOwvgA negotiator’s take/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAlbany Times Union,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Given the stunning breakdown in bnegotiations/b on budget cuts this week, I thought it might be interesting to have an expert on bnegotiation/b take a look at b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/18/ap5707546.htmlcid=1271667877ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNH2vpgXEkGKSOxjw7nCdV8Rj9U9GANY governor warns lawmakers about budget inaction/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrForbes/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.larchmontgazette.com/2008/articles/20081120summitopplat.htmlcid=1271667877ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNFhYYt6iJ35uboAMd_HnnuwhgMLDQOppenheimer amp; Latimer Address Albany Budget Crisis/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrLarchmont Gazette/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stbudg1118,0,2997402.storycid=1271667877ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNEv0Txw85bWINcLJxbweLAic81VRwPaterson petitions Senate to pass deficit plan/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNewsday/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20081117/NEWS12/81117037cid=1271667877ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNFfnaLau4Mhumq38f6E82h3QfIkwAnobrPoughkeepsie Journal/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/9303cid=1271667877ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNEKbFDBT9WfLVlgz51U7Xf36UVmIQnobrAlbany Times Union/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1271667877hl=ennobrall 581 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200811212111.htmcid=1272948171ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNFF4VXsecEA50PrSiCVp6Y06GK4fwbNegotiation/b with Taliban necessary: Boucher/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fHindu,nbsp;Indianbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Washington (PTI): Terming reconciliation with Taliban as quot;necessary,quot; a senior State Department official has said that there is nothing quot;evilquot; about b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.kcby.com/news/local/34863804.htmlcid=1272644982ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNH9De1k--KrYcAuvuoEQuEWcvBa4QPrice still under bnegotiation/b as the Port moves forward with rail b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKCBY.com 11,nbsp;ORnbsp;-/font nobr19 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Erica Rush COOS BAY, Ore. -The Port of Coos Bay agrees to purchase the rail line that runs from Coos Bay to Eugene but not without fighting for a lower b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://houstonist.com/2008/11/21/houstonist_flickr_photo_of_the_day_134.phpcid=0ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNFpMDSLaMYTBqjWEbzRMF-jnp9c4QHoustonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Twilight bNegotiation/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fHoustonist,nbsp; USAnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1We can only wonder as to the bnegotiations/b being held on such a beautiful evening. If you have a passion for Houston and photography, consider joining a b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/2008/11/20/buffett-goldman-harvard-ent-manage-cx_ml_1120negotiatorsplaybook_slide.htmlcid=0ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNF_MmHQrrnQ-LPr6Hz8aiZWbZDTmAIn Pictures: Nine Winning bNegotiation/b Tactics/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fForbes,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr16 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Life is one big bnegotiation/b--be it with your boss, your family or the used-car salesman. Winning every point is not an option, of course, but with a little b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D20601103%26sid%3DaH1JaIxvv3j4%26refer%3Dnewscid=1272135583ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNGaDaftVQ5pnes5JfaZsNjLeOr8igKKR#39;s Nuttall Resigns From Masonite Board Amid Debt bNegotiation/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBloombergnbsp;-/font nobrNov 18, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Masonite is bnegotiating/b with a lender-group led by Scotia Capital for a reprieve of at least 30 days in exchange for higher interest payment and fees, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/2008/11/20/buffett-goldman-harvard-ent-manage-cx_ml_1120negotiatorsplaybook.htmlcid=0ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNHxsRNRwVa91hlRzSe3FZLgG9gy_QThe Negotiator#39;s Playbook/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fForbes,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr16 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Life is one big bnegotiation/b--be it with your boss, spouse, customers or the used-car salesman. Formidable deal makers like Warren Buffett, Bill Clinton and b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://morganhilltimes.com/news/251028-earthquakes-city-step-closer-to-exclusive-negotiation-on-osc-mgmtcid=0ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNEOqA2ZaqOdoLIvjbQFDY-XzB0VRAEarthquakes, city step closer to exclusive bnegotiation/b on OSC mgmt/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMorgan Hill Times,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobrNov 20, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Natalie Everett San Jose Earthquakes only has eyes for Morgan Hill - and the feeling may be mutual. The Morgan Hill Parks and Recreation Commission b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7739198.stmcid=1270318724ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNFPHQdGNjxog2NmaWhTBW1vyG-RSQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=QhEJzrz9QiAJimgurl=newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45223000/jpg/_45223224_-2.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2BBC News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thebulletin.us/site/index.cfm%3Fnewsid%3D20203855%26BRD%3D2737%26PAG%3D461%26dept_id%3D576361%26rfi%3D8cid=1270318724ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNGs04WAmLNozKZ9TDAPwZHboJ6vkwPLO Promotes League Of Arab Nations Initiative To Israeli Public/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fEvening Bulletin,nbsp;PAnbsp;-/font nobr21 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By David Bedein, Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem - On Thursday, the PLO bNegotiation/b Department took the unusual move of sponsoring an advertisement from b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite%3Fcid%3D1226404793101%26pagename%3DJPost%252FJPArticle%252FShowFullcid=1270318724ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNFSApiVGMcNzAd0ZWTA7z3iXbVviwYes to #39;salam#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrJerusalem Post/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.cnsnews.com/public/checker.aspx%3FrsrcID%3D39682cid=1270318724ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNGaqyLNIyeK9PqdRyzsXdIVxqc1QwPalestinian Authority Reaches Out to Israelis in Hebrew/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCNSNews.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/19/content_10378084.htmcid=1270318724ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNGxWos3OFskSpD281WU13xfrRtDMwPNA to publish advertisement first time on Israeli media/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrXinhua/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/11/interview_with_daniel_levy.phpcid=1270318724ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNH9wFhc6rrKb-b8p2fViuQQLCy63AnobrAtlantic Online/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://newsbyus.com/index.php/article/2061cid=1270318724ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNFCb7i6xSvgfiPYWIaMJXKNccU8cwnobrNewsByUs/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1270318724hl=ennobrall 427 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php%3Fid%3D8897cid=1271483645ei=RoQnSY_MBaCQ6AOR-_hAusg=AFQjCNGyxxRcEL_6JrSevuhg24vNt1g2IwMineral lease bnegotiation/b: Devil lies in the details/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fFort Worth Business Press,nbsp;TXnbsp;-/font nobrNov 17, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Moreover, mineral interest owners believe that they are becoming savvy at bnegotiating/b lease terms due to the abundance of information related to mineral b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
negotiation - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

National and Cultural Negotiation Style

Cultural and national negotiation styles reflect communication behaviors and the... Read More

Negotiating: Forcing vs Compromising

Forcing is a hard-nosed approach that makes heavy demands from... Read More

What Are The Four Types Of Negotiating Outcomes?

Negotiating outcomes are the types of results that can happen... Read More

A One Stop Financial Solution

Amy Wright, 34, was extatic when her realtor showed her... Read More

Making the Deal: Women as Negotiators

Negotiating is no game. It is not for the weak... Read More

Avoiding and Accomodating in Negotiation

The avoiding approach to negotiating is characterized by losing, leaving,... Read More

Determine Your Rate And Negotiate Carefully With Unreasonable Clients

Consultants who offer executive assistant or computer services on a... Read More

Where to FIND the BEST Employees --

Obviously, you might logically say, "that is good!" You would... Read More

Negotiating Skills: Ask For More Than You Expect To Get

It creates some negotiating room, and you might just get... Read More

How To Make An Inflexible Bureaucrat See You As A Person

Inflexible Bureaucrats Are Characterized by:1. Cares little about your happiness... Read More

Negotiations: The Art, Science, & Sport of Online Deals

Negotiations can seem as complex as physics, and in fact,... Read More

So Whats Your Argument?

Arguments aren't always bad things. Sometimes They're used to convince... Read More

Embarrassed To Discuss Your Prices? Seven Common Reasons We Cant Talk About Them

Last week, a wonderfully-skilled electrician installed a new light fixture... Read More

Guidelines for Ambassador Appointments

Ambassadors to other countries are a vital part of international... Read More

Resolve Conflict In 6 Easy Steps - The BEDROL Method

The principles of Negotiation can work for you in any... Read More

Games are a Reflection of Behavior

You are standing on a small stage yelling, "What's the... Read More

Negotiation: A Compromising Position

Negotiating is a hot topic these days for a good... Read More

Negotiating Technology Contracts

Have you ever tried to negotiate a deal for software,... Read More

Negotiating Skills Will Get You Ahead

Negotiating skills can help you manage lots of different kinds... Read More

Business: Keys To Negotiating Well

Whether it's buying a car, asking for a pay rise,... Read More

Secrets of the Trade Revealed: Bartering for Business

In its simplest form, bartering involves an equal trade. One... Read More

Can a Service Be a Commodity

Well Enron dealt with this a little for instance an... Read More

Negotiate to Your Advantage

The hardest and most important part of any negotiation is... Read More

Suppliers as Your Partners in Cost Reduction

This article is one of the many articles still to... Read More

Barter and Its Benefits

What is Barter? Barter involves 2 parties. Each party wants... Read More