Margaret’s Persuasion Coach Blog
Springing Into Fall
Fall weather energizes us to do what we’ve been putting off. Our first cool fronts of the Fall blew through last week. In October on the Gulf Coast, “cool” can mean daily highs in the low 80s or upper 70s (as opposed to 90s). But the second front gave us a low in the 50s. A spurt of energy to catch up on things I’ve been putting off arrived with the front.
Hope for Real Conversations
For talking about touchy topics, complex situations, or emotionally loaded matters, texting is all but hopeless…So you can understand my concern that many young people have grown up texting…However, I recently came across two encouraging reports.
Don’t Shrink Your Brain!
I’m sure no one deliberately sets out to shrink their brain. If anything, most of us want to grow mentally–learn new things, open our minds to different points of view. But did you know that complaining could shrink and rewire your brain, harm your health, and attract more of the very things you complain about into your life?
Book Excerpt: Study Notes for “What’s the Twist”
If you missed the excerpt, “What’s the twist,” from Love on the Rocks with a Twist, or it’s been awhile, you might like to read, or review it. Now, here is an excerpt from the accompanying “Study Notes for What’s the Twist”…”Interests and ‘Walkaway Alternatives”
Book Excerpt: What’s the Twist
My book Love on the Rocks with a Twist – Delightful Fiction with Lessons on Dealing with Others begins with an introductory essay, followed by study notes introducing the most basic of the consensus building skills demonstrated by the characters in the remaining stories. Here is an excerpt from that intro, “What’s the Twist”
Book Excerpt: The Silver Rule of Consensus
In previous posts of excerpts from Bridges to Consensus, we’ve seen that The Golden Rule Isn’t Always Enough. And we’ve seen that People Resist Being Wrong. For this reason, I coined what I call “The Silver Rule of Consensus”: Minimize Wrong Making.”… Here’s a fact scenario from Bridges, pp. 35-6:
Book Excerpt: People Resist Being Wrong
I previously posted an excerpt from Bridges to Consensus titled, “The Golden Rule Isn’t Always Enough.” Now, here’s another excerpt explaining one reason the Golden Rule sometimes isn’t enough–people resist being wrong…
Why Didn’t She…?
We all know about fight or flight defenses to situations that threaten serious and imminent danger. They are hardwired, instinctive. But they aren’t the only such defenses. Another is “the immobility tonic,” a rather confusing term. It’s not the kind of tonic that comes in a bottle.
DADA: Phony Candidate Websites
As many of you know, sometimes I post articles in a category I call “Defense Against the Dark Arts of Persuasion” or “DADA.” These posts describe sales ploys or tactics used to influence large numbers of people. This article deals with phony political candidate websites…A New York Times article reports…
Mindful Health & Dealing with Others
Believe it or not, a mindful approach to health strengthens the very mindset used to practice the persuasion, consensus and communication skills I teach. In a fascinating book, Counterclockwise—Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility, author Ellen J. Lange, PhD recognizes the value of conventional medical advice, but…also advocates putting one’s own ideas into the mix, not just blindly following “orders.”