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From quiet explainer to energetic pitchman, from introverts to extroverts, exceptionally persuasive people are a gloriously diverse group, but they share a few fundamental personality traits.
Let’s take a look at “9 Personality Traits of the Most Persuasive People”:
1. Positivity:
Would you rather buy a product that promises to fight fatigue or one that boosts energy? If you’re like most, the positive benefit (greater energy!) is more persuasive. That's why the best salespeople keep it positive.
2. Confidence:
It gets us in trouble sometimes, but humans generally respond more to confidence than competence. Masters of persuasion leverage this fact without ever crossing over into pushiness.
3. Empathy:
There’s an old leadership quote that captures why empathy is such a fundamental characteristic: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
4. Active listening:
It's important to ask the right questions and really listen to the responses. To persuade others, you need to understand their needs, perspectives, and objections.
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5. Conscientiousness:
Getting another person on board is a lot easier when you call when you say you will, send documents you promised on time, and remember all the relevant points from previous discussions.
6. Willingness to compromise:
Sometimes, to win the larger war, you must concede the small battles. The most persuasive folks stand their ground for the important fights, but graciously compromise when they can.
7. Comfort with silence:
As the great sales trainer J. Douglas Edwards once said, "Whenever you ask a closing question, shut up. The first person, who speaks, loses." Following this dictum demands the ability to sit with silence.
8. Authenticity:
The best persuaders know that if people don’t trust you’re being true to yourself, they won’t trust anything you’re saying.
9. Flexibility:
A high-energy sales pitch might win one person over, but force someone quieter and more deliberative into a defensive crouch. You need to be able to modify your approach to suit your audience.
Source: inc.com
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