Persuasive Communication

A POWERFUL TOOL
Communication is an excellent topic to discuss, anytime and anywhere. I believe we need to have self analysis on this topic so we may adopt new technologies which can bring results more beneficial to our careers.

I enjoyed my life at the journalism school where I studied after my graduation. There have been many instances in my later years which evoked memories of my student days. One such instance reminded me of a dissertation I had to prepare, for the end of the first semester, which was about Persuasive Communication.

For those who have read the Hindu mythological text of “Mahabharata”, understanding the concept of persuasive communication is no big deal. Here the communication technique adopted by Lord Krishna, to convince the Valiant hero Arjuna, to take up arms against his relatives who were fighting the opposition can be considered as the most effective example of persuasive communication.

Regardless of your industry or profession, the chances are you regularly have to persuade others to adapt to your ideas whether in sales or service. Persuasion does not involve anything unethical. It merely involves psychological techniques to make others understand, what you have already understood.
Every successful talk requires the support of two factors, the right time and ambience. These are the two factors which need to be taken care of before you start your persuasive discussion.

Maximum information needs to be gathered from the face of the listener, before jumping in with your ideas and suggestions. You must give time for him or her to speak out their mind first. A good listener gather momentum for introducing his suggestions.

Make sure that you are taking the listener in the right direction. You need to be focused with your views. Talk about the subject directly and precisely.

Examples and Stories are an extremely effective way to persuade. You may tell the listener about a similar incident which happened and its result. This technique can easily bring the listener round to your perspective. Give space for the listener’s imagination to grow and get his suggestions at regular intervals during the talk.

You may stress your points with third party comments. But it has to be truthful in all respects. A quote may strengthen your point and avoid a negative decision, since most of us believe that things can go correctly for us, if it went well with others. This is why advertisements are usually so effective.
At this historic juncture, where we all stand, with a significant achievement of reaching 15 years of excellent service in shipping and logistics, we all need to be willing to adopt new technologies and winning strategies.

Unnikrishnan G.
Head – Corporate Communications, CSS Group