Influence Skills: 3-in-1 Guide to Master Influential Leadership, Persuasive Negotiation & Manipulation Techniques

By Lawrence Finnegan

Influence Skills - 3 Manuscripts in 1 Book, Including: Persuasion, Assertiveness and Email Etiquette.

 

1)

PERSUASION:

7 Easy Steps to Master Influence Skills, Psychology of Manipulation, Convincing People & Negotiation Skills

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lawrence Finnegan
• Release date: Jul 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088195420

Book preview

Influence Skills

3 Manuscripts in 1 Book, Including: Persuasion, Assertiveness and Email Etiquette

Lawrence Finnegan

More by Lawrence Finnegan

Discover all books from the Communication Skills Series by Lawrence Finnegan at:

bit.ly/lawrence-finnegan

Book 1: Body Language

Book 2: Assertiveness

Book 3: Conversation Skills

Book 4: Persuasion

Book 5: Make People Laugh

Book 6: Small Talk

Book 7: Social Skills

Book 8: Email Etiquette

Themed book bundles available at discounted prices:

bit.ly/lawrence-finnegan

Copyright

© Copyright by Lawrence Finnegan. All rights reserved.

This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regard to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered.

From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations.

In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly.

Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so. The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guaranteed assurance.

The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

Table of Contents

Influence Skills

More by Lawrence Finnegan

Copyright

Table of Contents

Book 1: Persuasion

Table of Contents

Book 2: Assertiveness

Table of Contents

Book 3: Email Etiquette

Table of Contents

More by Lawrence Finnegan

Book 1: Persuasion

7 Easy Steps to Master Influence Skills, Psychology of Manipulation, Convincing People & Negotiation Skills

Lawrence Finnegan

Table of Contents

Influence Skills

More by Lawrence Finnegan

Copyright

Table of Contents

Book 1: Persuasion

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Step 1 - Be Confident

Take a Stand

Fake It ‘Till You Make It

Business Casual

What You Can Trash On

Knowledge Is Power

Earned or Assumed

Chapter 2: Step 2 - Work on Delivery

Happy

Multimedia

Fast or Slow Tempo

Reflect and Consider

Demographics

Do Not Pander

Adjust

Chapter 3: Step 3 - Find Mutual Benefit

Compromise Is Strength

Change Nothing but the Words

Framing

The Power of Capitulation

Reciprocity

Grounded

Chapter 4: Step 4 - Favor Logic & Reason

Reliable Sources

Trust

Credibility

Overthink

Intuition Is Not a Guess

Life Lessons

Chapter 5: Step 5 - Find Some Yes

Small Talk

Gift of Gab Deconstructed

Open-ended Openers

Agree With Valid Complaints

Not a Battle

Keep Your Cool

Chapter 6: Step 6 - Be Patient and Persistent

Stay Tuned In

Steer the Conversation

Losses Into Gains

Chapter 7: Step 7 - Be Amazing

Likable And Influential

Prerecord

Conclusion

Book 2: Assertiveness

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Step 1 - Healthy Boundaries

Boundaries

Know Core, Know Boundaries

No Core, No Boundaries

Self-Control

Chapter 2: Step 2 - Confidence

Preparing

Eye Contact

Speak Up!

Articulation

Animated

Balance

Chapter 3: Step 3 - Prepare

Research

Rehearse

Audience Knowledge

To Be or Not to Be

Chapter 4: Step 4 - Stay on Task

Emotional Intelligence

Control

Focus

Chapter 5: Step 5 - Active Listening

Me, Myself, and Eye

Body Language

Restate

Empathy

Chapter 6: Step 6 - Validate Others' Feelings

Validating People

Do Not Be Manipulated

Appeal to People’s Better Halves

Do They Have a Point?

Chapter 7: Step 7 - Compromise

Choice, Options and Feedback

Illusion of Choice

Stronger Together

Conclusion

Book 3: Email Etiquette

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Step 1 - Learn the Basics

Similarity to Letters

Differences

Chapter 2: Step 2 - Never Send Angry

Passion and Purpose

Processing or Plotting

Cooling Off Period

Boundaries and Balance

Clout As Currency

Chapter 3: Step 3 - Practice with Casual Emails First

Establish Expectations and Keep Them

Emotion on the Page

Personal Email

Understanding

Style, Tone, and Voice

Social Media

Forever

Chapter 4: Step 4 - Master Professional Correspondence

Less Is More

Content is King

Word Choice

Mass Messaging

Group Dynamics

The Newsletter

Chapter 5: Step 5 - Learn Time Savers

Upkeep

Digital Tools

Asynchronous Communication

Delays and Excuses

Chapter 6: Step 6 - Use Rich Media

HTML

Hypertext

Explore Your Windows

Rich Text

Conversion

Chapter 7: Step 7 - Be a Remote Team Player

Shared and Collaborative Files

Establish Norms and Standards

Organize, Prioritize, and Diversity

Open-Source Options

Prioritize

Work/Life Balance

Information Hygiene

Passwords and Security

Test and Check

Tips for the Technologically Impaired

BONUS - Take It Beyond the Inbox

Gig Work

Writing

Podcasts, Videos, and Amateur Productions

The Possibilities Are Endless

Take The Next Step

Conclusion

More by Lawrence Finnegan

Introduction

Welcome to Persuasion. Exerting your will; Getting others to change their mind. As innocent as flipping someone's opinion or potentially life-changing as seduction, of all the communication skills an individual can develop, Persuasion is the most powerful and, therefore, most mistrusted. It is easy to see why learning how to influence people's thoughts, and even behavior is looked at with suspicion: we are not talking about simply asserting ourselves but pulling others around to your position. We will learn how to leave the realm of merely remaining true to ourselves and cross the threshold to persuading our fellow humans to change their minds. Salespeople, priests, teachers, counselors, and so-many others know persuasion skills; now you will too.

Despite how persuasive individuals hold many helpers and beneficial roles, the reputation of those skilled in this art is not good. Too many selfish people have pushed too many credulous or trusting folks into actions they would never have done without being coerced; such is the power you now hold in your hands. This may be the only guide you follow which comes with a warning: over-application of the skills presented here may result in driving people away if you unrelentingly try to change the mind of everyone around you! Like so much in life, moderation is vital, and one must be extra judicious with something so strong. 

Persuasion is not manipulation; manipulation forces someone to do something Against Their Own Interests. Sooner or later, the target realizes what happened, and if they are not happy with the results, it will be on you. 

Utilizing effective powers of persuasion ranges from subtle to crusading. Drawing people to your conclusion with suggestion and passive guidance or actively challenging objections while leading the conversation both have their time and place. Every situation will demand a different approach, and learning how to pivot that approach on the spot is powerful. We go over the seeming paradox of remaining nimble by defining an unmovable core. While we work on changing other people's minds, we must always be on guard that the people we are changing benefit from our proposals.

Again and again, I will urge you, to use these skills constructively. You can think about being genuine and honest selfishly AND altruistically if you need to: nothing will pit people against you like the feeling they have been manipulated. Using people is counterproductive, and in all cases, you must weigh what you are getting from the persuasion against what the other person does.

Whenever you are asked to take a moral stand, we back it up with logical, cause-and-effect relationships. You do not have to take my word for anything but support even the most emotional-sounding declarations with facts and proven research-- just as you will once we are through. Far from harping on you or beating a dead horse, we make sure we do not drift into troublesome waters by regularly checking ourselves. Because the motivational speakers, life coaches, and cultural vanguards we all know and follow use some of the same skill sets as con artists, connivers, and charlatans. Like a superhero, you must decide to use your powers for good instead of evil. Evil, in this case, is defined as using someone against their own interests, lying, and insidious manipulation.

Enough with the admonishments. It is time to sit up straight, get ready for some practical exercises and take the first step toward a more persuasive personality.

Let’s get started!

Chapter 1: Step 1 - Be Confident

When we begin to talk about persuasion and what it takes to bring another around to your point of view, we have to start with confidence. If you have not convinced yourself, you should not expect to persuade others. While significant career changes and essential skills should never be lied about, "fake it till you make it'' absolutely applies if you are not feeling confident. A talent like any other, persuasion must be practiced to develop it. Fear not; the homework is easy or at least laid out simply. In the sections further on, we will break Confidence down into its elemental parts, the near-mystic quality we used to ascribe to charisma now fully understood.

You don't have to be a shrinking violet if you do not want to be; the wallflower can bloom. Even the most socially awkward, fumbling word klutz can, with a bit of practice and motivated self-interest, get to conversational competency and beyond to the interpersonal communication Master Class of Persuasive Speaking. All of which is based on having at least a little confidence.

Take a Stand

There's no denying that confidence is catchy. Behavioral study after behavioral study has demonstrated that crowds are more susceptible to passionate speakers than knowledgeable ones. You do not need to look too far in this modern age or history to see humanity is swayed by strident, emotional appeals and passionately delivered rhetoric as much as well-reasoned, logical statements. The power of a charismatic individual to move entire populations is well documented, which is why it is so important to check your motivations. I made the distinction between Persuasion and Manipulation in the introduction because it is so important not to use your skills to the detriment of those around you.

Even if you lack moral fiber or any collectivist mentality, nobody likes being used. You risk undermining everything you are working towards once you begin using people against their interests. It is practical: you will encounter these people again, and while folks are pretty forgiving, once someone feels you have wronged them, you may as well consider that bridge burned. However, we are a social beast and tend to default to abdicating personal responsibility-- there is a part of us psychologically loves to make someone else think for us.

The willingness of people to put decisions, both trivial and significant, into the hands of others is nothing short of profound. Everyone gets at least a little of their thoughts and feelings from others. It is the brain's way of conserving energy: we trust another to do the logic and reasoning, so we do not have to. As far as it goes, sometimes you simply have to have to. Nobody knows everything, and seeking expertise is often necessary.

Fake It ‘Till You Make