Simple Ways To Avoid Linguistical Pitfalls In Persuasion (part I)

"Linguistics is arguably the most hotly contested property in the academic realm. It is soaked with the blood of poets, theologians, philosophers, philologists, psychologists, biologists, anthropologists, and neurologists, along with whatever blood can be got out of grammarians."- Russ Rymer

What's all the fuss about linguistics that has academics drawing blood?

I have an image of professors in tweed giving their intellectual enemies fierce tongue lashings.

And what is it about the study of language that could have these normally peaceful types (poets, writers) soaked in blood?

Language is powerful - derisive and divisive at the same time that it is full of potential and beauty.

'The pen is mightier than the sword'. We've all heard that saying. What follows is a list of eight words that diminish the power of what we can do with language.

Consistency, confidence and congruency are the most important tools for speaking with our affluent prospects and these eight words erode all three of these.

Every single one of these words has an exception, and feel free to explore and discover the exceptions and use them to your advantage.

Be very, very cautious, especially if you're a beginner with these skills. In general, you should ignore these words, stay away from them, don't use them at all. They will absolutely backfire.

When we first begin to understand the importance of rapport, it can be a tricky thing to keep hold of.

Persuasion is weak at first and then as you learn to navigate your way through it, it becomes quite magnetic. When working with an affluent prospect or client, what your magnetic persuasion skills are really telling them are: 'I am like you'.

Stumbles and blunders in language such as these eight words can stop the rapport from flowing. They cut it off at the knees, so to speak, and cast doubt upon you. That's why I call them 'dangerous'.

BUT.

Whatever you say before the word 'but' is automatically canceled out.

"I wanted to buy you a present, but. . ." Yeah. I'm not getting a present, am I?

"Your product seems to fit my needs, but. . ." I'm not going to buy it.

The word but cancels everything that comes before it, every single thing, gone, destroyed, nada.

TRY.

Trying always presupposes failing. Either you're going to do it, or you're not going to do it. There is no such thing as 'try'.

On an advanced level, I love the word try and I use it all the time.

IF.

'If' is similar to 'try' because it presupposes "might not". It also is a weak word. It weakens who you are and what you're talking about.

"If you like what I'm telling you about today, maybe you'd like to see about possibly, you know, signing up."

Is that confidence? Is that reassuring to hear? Nope.

'If' lacks intention and strength. It doesn't support you and build you up. And worse, it gives your prospects a way out.

MIGHT.

'Might' is a wishy-washy word.

"I might be able to help you." Well, can you help me or not?

Might takes away your personal power. If you speak authoritatively, you will be respected by the affluent and rewarded with their business.