Negotiation Information

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/


MORE RESOURCES:

Jakarta Globe

Trans-Pacific Partnership begins negotiation
VOVNews.vn
Vietnam and seven other nations began their first round of negotiation on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in Melbourne, Australia, on March 15. ...
Negotiation on Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement starts todayMatangi Tonga
Australia - Interview - Doorstop at Parliament HouseISRIA (registration)
Trans-Pacific trade talks start in AustraliaAFP
World Politics Review -New Zealand Herald
all 127 news articles »


Telegraph.co.uk

Israel Feeling Rising Anger From the US
New York Times
The administration also wants Mr. Netanyahu to commit to substantive negotiations with the Palestinians, after more than a year in which the peace process ...
Israel v Palestine: the rematchgair rhydd
Peres on J'lem: We will respect every holy siteYnetnews
Israeli Settlement Announcement "An Insult"Scoop.co.nz (press release)
FrumForum -The Baltimore Chronicle -BBC News
all 3,925 news articles »


New York Daily News

Budget languishes amid distractions
Albany Times Union
But he's in the midst of negotiation with the legislative leaders. Whatever he says is fine with me. I mean, we're in the beginning of a process, ...
NY Governor Predicts Late BudgetWETM-TV
Paterson warns of late NY budgetWCAX

all 30 news articles »


Washington Post

Aide: Karzai 'very angry' at Taliban boss' arrest
The Associated Press
Baradar's arrest has already prompted Pakistan and others to stake out their positions on possible reconciliation negotiations that could mean an endgame to ...
Afghanistan is Lost without Better GovernanceProject Syndicate
Aide: Karzai 'very angry' at Taliban boss' arrestMiamiHerald.com

all 559 news articles »


CBC.ca

A Brief, but Failed, Pass at Bipartisanship
New York Times (blog)
In 1981, as Christopher J. Dodd reached the Senate, two members of the Harvard Negotiation Project published the best seller “Getting to Yes. ...
Dodd proposes sweeping financial reformsThe Ct Mirror
An Act of Dodd: Draft Bill Would Let Pols Duck the Question, "Are You For ...Huffington Post (blog)
Dodd: Banking Reforms Would Rein In Financial RiskNewsHour
Atlantic Online (blog)
all 1,412 news articles »


Focus Taiwan News Channel

Irresponsibility of Taiwan's agricultural minister over economic negotiation ...
eTaiwan News
Responding to Ting's accusation, Chen noted that agriculture is not a part of the agenda during the negotiation of the ECFA. In fact, China had unilaterally ...
Wen: I have a strong wish to visit TaiwanChina Daily
Mainland, Taiwan weigh up benefits of economic pactChina Daily

all 51 news articles »


Commerce ministry backs steel mills in iron ore negotiations
People's Daily Online
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) hopes to maintain the current iron ore long co-pricing negotiation mechanism, and will provide support to Chinese ...

and more »


Continental pilots hope to cash in on job clause
NorthJersey.com
"There is pressure to get that [the scope clause] resolved as part of the negotiation process," she said. Meanwhile, Continental pilots have been writing ...

and more »


Chelmsford seeks to break negotiation stalemate
Chelmsford Independent
Chelmsford officials hope a push to allow municipalities more leeway to design their own health plan will break a two-year ...



Delhomme's shrewd move
National Football Post
Setting that tone for the negotiation, he then resisted their overtures to sign a deal before he left the building. Instead, Delhomme gave the Browns the ...

and more »

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