Before you can learn to persuade, you'll need to understand the psychology of human motivation. What makes a person tick? What makes a person take risks? What makes a person try alternatives? What makes a person want to expand a comfort zone?
Psychologists have identified four distinct personality types: Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Melancholic and Choleric. Everyone leans towards one of these types. If you can learn to understand what excites, motivates, irritates and frustrates these different personality types, you'll be well on your way to helping people to listen to you. So you should probably consider how each personality type reacts to words, and attempt to use words that each type responds to well.
Motivate
Sanguine personalities agree to take action when they believe the action will give them approval, attention, or fun. Choleric personalities agree to take action when they believe the action will help them to achieve their goals, save them time, or give them control over their destiny. Melancholic personalities agree to take action only after they've analyzed all options and observed all data. They like to organize their thoughts, reach obvious conclusions and live an orderly life. And finally, phlegmatic personalities agree to take action only when they believe that the action will benefit those they love, keep people happy, make situations run smoothly and bring harmony into the lives of everyone around them.
Here are a few words that motivate each personality type:
Sanguine
Fantastic
Fun
Wonderful
Recognition
Awesome
Easy
Picture this
You want it?
Looks great
Latest thing
Phlegmatic
Help
No hurry
No risk
Trust
Reliable
Promise
Secure
Comfortable
Try it out
Step-by-step
Choleric
Now
Immediate
Try it
Fast
Results
What do you think?
Today
Cutting edge
Get it done
Right away
Melancholic
Guarantee
Evidence
Analysis
Research
Experts
Logic
Proof
Data shows
Think
Does it make sense?
Give these words a try, and you'll be amazed at how effective they are. But be careful, if you use Choleric words on Phlegmatic people, you'll only make them nervous. If you use Sanguine words on Melancholic people, their brains may not compute. If you use Melancholic words on Sanguine people, you'll never keep their attention. And if you try Phlegmatic words on Choleric people, they'll think you're wasting their time. However, if you can learn to speak the languages of the various types correctly, your words will have amazing impact...
Four Personality Types and the Words That Motivate Them
You can find more about this topic on Navigating Life's website, including the two questions you need to answer in order to determine someone's personality type. Simply go to http://www.navigatinglife.org, and visit the Galley for links to our full articles on personality, communication, and persuasion.
Lynn Marie Sager has toured over two-dozen countries and worked on three continents. Author of A River Worth Riding: Fourteen Rules for Navigating Life, Lynn currently lives in California; where she fills her time with private coaching, public speaking, and teaching for the LACCD and Pierce College. She runs the Navigating Life website, where she offers free assistance to readers who wish to incorporate the rules of worthwhile living into their lives. To read more about how you can use these rules to improve your life, visit Lynn's website at http://www.navigatinglife.org
See Also : Motivational Techniques How to time management