"Help me be more persuasive!"

Whether you want to get a stubborn kiddo to clean their room or disarm an argumentative relative, our experts reveal the art of persuasion

- KRISTINA MASTROCOLA

Cajole with kindness

Tap your natural charm

An affable request requires that you remember something specific about the other person, says expert Patti Wood. “If you’d like someone you volunteer with to make brownies for a fundraiser, you might say, ‘This is going to be an exciting event and everyone loves your delicious brownies. Would you mind making your famous recipe again?’” Opening with a compliment and making a specific request are keys to persuasion.

Talk like them

We’re more likely to agree with people who are like us, notes expert Traci Brown. That’s why matching the way people talk will help foster a rapport. “Focus on the adjectives they use when they’re excited,” she adds. “If they say something is ‘amazing,’ for example, consider using this word when you talk to them.”