Influencing others is not easy, and therefore it is worth understanding the psychological principles behind the influencing process. Why do you need to influence others? Well, maybe you’ve come up with an idea for a great new product, and you need to get the rest of the team on-side to believe in it. The Six Principles of Influence (also know as the Six Weapons of Influence) were created by Robert Cialdini, and were identified through his experimental studies and time spent working alongside recruiters, sales people, marketers and others. The six principles are:
Commitment and Consistency – we have a deep seated desire to be consistent. Therefore, once we’ve committed to something we’re more inclined to go through with it.