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April 9, 2003
Persuasive Thinking
So today in addition to a couple of days ago, Kris suggested I become a lawyer. Initially I took it as a compliment but after thinking about it for awhile, I take it to mean that I'm horrible at persuasion. Lawyers are very good at the ability to get others to see what they want them to (right and wrong aside).
I'm a persistant person but persistance does not make a good lawyer, being able to persuade does. This begins my journey to figure out how to be more persuasive. If the views and opinions are logical and sound, then there must be something else preventing me from being persuasive. Persuasion involves two-way communication which to say kindly is one of the things that apparently I'm not doing. However, does the insinuation that I'm not listening to the other side mean that I'm really not listening or that I'm not giving up in my arguments.
Of course some people say I come off a little harsh but as much as I try to work at it, I seem to revert back to a very vocal and strong-spoken tone which people take as a belittling or put-down.
People write things for a number of reasons but one of them is persuasion and a general theme seems to be change. Changing the world around us by using blogs, the web, and the internet as a medium itself to present those thoughts in an effort to share with like-minded people or persuade those who disagree. In academia, persuasion is almost like an art but has a very scientific way about it.
This is just the beginning of the journey towards being a better persuasive thinker.
Posted by beamz at April 9, 2003 7:49 PM
Comments
I don't think she meant that you are horrible at persuasion. I think she meant the opposite.
Lawyers are called upon to persuade people, even if they believe that what they are saying isn't true.
If she thinks you'd make a good lawyer, it means that you ARE good at persuading people.
Next time you are unsure of what someone says to you when they make a suggestion, may I make a suggestion? Repeat back to them what they said and be sure to convey that was what what you understood their statement to be. (i.e. "So, you're saying that ... or "You feel that .... because ...")
It is in their nature (if they are a good communicator) to then correct you or further clarify in order to make sure that their message was conveyed correctly.
Damn, I guess I did learn something in my communications class. :P
BTW - Cain is your leader
Pamela :)
Posted by: Pameluh at April 10, 2003 2:27 PM