Chapter - Introduction
Today we are going to be talking about a special way of influencing or persuasion that is not so much about the tactics and strategies but is as effective if not more so than manipulation! This will allow you to be influential more easily and effortlessly! You'll just naturally become charismatic, highly persuasive to people without even trying too hard!
This is especially useful to communications and persuasion professionals who have accumulated every tool available in the persuasion space and now require something special to take it to the next level. By fixing inner game, or his intentions, he can, if he chooses use those proven persuasion tools in his current toolbox and make it much stronger by understanding the principles in this book.
Invisible influence is not any one specific set of techniques. It's a way of looking at the persuasion cycle and having the correct mindsets. It is not the overt action or how to have surgical precision in manipulation. The underlying principle that makes this work is intention! Are your motives altruistic? Self-serving or mutually beneficial? If yes what creates the powerful persuasive effects!
You can use any sophisticated psychological gambits available in the world! But if the client perceives your malevolent intentions to con or hurt him? That you don't really have his best interest in mind? Your efforts will be in vain! On the other hand someone who has been trained in the persuasive arts may find himself loved and thoroughly trusted by someone who just believes in him!
How many rich patrons having had piles of cash hand their fortunes to con artist who are kind, harmless looking, and seemingly altruistic missionary and charity workers? That person may be a scammer and con artist, or he may be genuine but no one was the wiser! The person who was scammed may have been a master at persuasion himself? But because this operator understood the value and power of invisible influence and deliberately used the underlying frames and intentions game as opposed to the common, mechanical and predictable tactics and strategies done by everyone, he succeeded!
My point is, that I strongly recommend that you become authentic. Even if you're not you, can tap the power of hidden influences discussed in this book.
Metamessage
Meta-means above or beyond. Everything we do have meta-meanings that can explain why we what we do. These things may be declared or openly verbalized or not made known or rendered invisible. If some stranger, out of nowhere tries to offer us something for free? The meta-meaning there is most likely going to be interpreted as a person having an angle or some ulterior motive that is not known to us yet.
Although this person did for us what appears to be a good deed? Something there just smells fishy. It's difficult to appreciate or look at the good deed as a gift or service to us. Some people have no problems taking things at face value, say thank you and walk away. Others still may see the suspicious quality inherent within that act. Whether that person truly did it for good -with all good intentions no ulterior motives whatsoever or not? That act would've been viewed negatively anyway!
So in order for this to work, you must control the meta-meaning of the interaction, and everything you do must have a good narrative or a good meta-description. This is a necessary step for them to buy the altruistic act. It has to convincingly declare that whatever it is you're doing is truly for the targetâs best interest and that you will also get something in return. In fact, being too altruistic though real or not could be viewed suspiciously because there's no such thing as free lunch as many believe! Clearly communicate that you also would benefit in this and its win-win all the way.
Suggested meta-meanings
In business arrangements, there is an underlying frame or agreement that both parties would both get a good deal from the transaction. Some merchants actually do not understand this point and you must have experienced this at one point. Let's say when you were haggling for the price of this item you were interested in? The make claims that he is actually selling it at a loss and absolutely not making any profit at all!
If you are the buyer, would you believe his preposterous claims? Unlikely! If on the other hand you design the meaning or justification as something like you need to make more sales and on the front end you're losing money but is making a killing on the back end which is a legitimate business practice and something that a lot of businesses in fact do.
Anything at all that will legitimize your actions at the same time explain that whatever it is you're doing is not only beneficial to the target, but is also beneficial to you which is why you're doing it, will win their trust over. People are always going to be suspicious. Instead of ignoring that fact, proactively go after and address those hidden objections and questions! Control the narrative!
Relationship dynamics
For the business relationship to work, it must be based partly on trust AND some benefit. With every business transaction that you can demonstrate by your actions that you are treating this particular prospect or client special; that you are trustworthy and truly care for his interest? The more trusting and loving they become of you!
Trust doesn't just mean you're going to take advantage of them. It also means the reliability and quality of provided services and products. You can be trustworthy, and be doing your best, but it you provide substandard products and services? They're going to dump you!
Quality of products and services
This means the many positive results you've delivered so far can be replicated and depended on. When you promise a certain quality of service or price or schedule? You're expected to be able to fulfill the same quality of service the next time! If you managed to do well in the first transaction but mess it up on the next? You are reducing the relationship quality and making yourself look unreliable! It doesnât build overall trust. You must demonstrate you are also responsible as well as committed to do the best you can do to satisfy the needs of the client.
Quality of work
Having the desire to do or improve on your last delivery or at the very least to meet it consistently is your mission. You must also sub-communicate that you are trying to improve on the quality of your output not because of your gain, but also because you want to help him immensely!
Over delivering on expectations
This is when you want to not just deliver value to what he was expecting, but surpass it at no extra cost. Many businesses do this where they offer bonuses, or deliver earlier; give more features, a free upgrade etc. to their most loyal customers. People want to get free bonuses every time!
However there is part of the incentives program that is intended to make the buyer feel good about the business but it must not become the norm that it destroys the principle of âover deliveriesâ. This must always be preserved. The idea of them receiving extra bonuses should feel like a gift, a privilege and not a right!
These surprises and gifts accumulate over time into the relationship building efforts.
Need to Underplay
The nature of invisible persuasion is none of these things are typically announced and broadcasted nor can be publicly advertised! These are things that are just there but deliberately underplayed.
These are strongly appreciated yet undermined or delivered in a low tone.
Those tiny little gestures that make the customer feel special, going that extra mile trying to satisfy his wants, getting those tiny gifts and surprises or just doing those small special favors that you know will be greatly appreciated even if they didnât ask for it!
Principle of reciprocity
Depending on your delivery that you can somehow sub communicate and be noticed for the efforts you're doing for the benefit of the prospect? That you are acting above and beyond the call of duty (so to speak), which exemplifies that subdued message of that caring type persuasion! Reciprocity is that psychological trigger or urge that when something good is done to us? We want to reciprocate back and do the same good deeds for them! It's just the built-in mechanism we humans have that makes us naturally want to give back. Supposes that person isn't asking for anything back? It makes the message even stronger! We almost feel guilty somewhat; like being given a gift and you have nothing for them!
As a result consciously or unconsciously they will try to square things off. They will try to do things for you without you even asking for it! They might give you more businesses in the future or recommend you to their friends and family etc.
The important thing to remember is the meta-meaning is never manipulative. That this is not a scam that you are plotting something, actually expecting something in return. You must be sure that you are doing this for the sole purpose of making the prospect or client ecstatically happy!
Providing Real value
Good things come in small packages. Even the small little things, create real value when it's actually of use to them! Find out these things that take minor effort on your part but can translate to huge benefits for the clients. For example if you could deliver the goods earlier? And you know that they can dispose of the products quickly? That results to a lot of sales for them they wouldn't otherwise make, had you delivered on the original time.
Or what about putting a complimentary gift card or wrapping the item for the client? He would save a lot of time from having to go through the process of getting someone to w...