8 ways to get what you want

This NewScientist article explains eight elements of persuasion. Here's a summary:

1. Be a mimic
...mimic someone's mannerisms subtly--their head and hand movements, posture and so forth - and it can be one of the most powerful forms of persuasion. That's the conclusion of a number of recent studies.

2. Look at it this way...
If you want to bring people round to your point of view, try "framing," a favorite tactic of spin doctors. "Framing is about leading people to think about an issue or opinion in a way that is advantageous to you," explains George Bizer of Union College in Schenectady, New York. "For example, opponents of inheritance taxes prefer to frame them as 'death taxes'."

3. Less is more
A number of studies have revealed that the more reasons people are asked to come up with in support of an idea, the less value they ascribe to each. The result: asking people to "think of all the reasons why this is a good idea" is likely to backfire, and may serve to harden their views.

4. Grind them down
...you should avoid engaging in argument or doing battle with sales people when your mental batteries are running low. Conversely, if you're trying to be persuasive, strike when your target is running low on mental energy.

5. The medium is the means
...if you're a woman and want to persuade other women you'd be better off meeting face-to-face, while men are less confrontational if contacted by email.

6. Style over substance
Persuasion, it turns out, may have as much to do with how you say something as what you're saying. And the less time you're allowed to think about the content, the more the style of delivery matters....If you want to be persuasive, don't stumble, pause or use language that shows hesitation. And for goodness sake, don't give your listeners time to think about what you're really saying.

7. Get them angry
....people have to be convinced that the issue is relevant to them, that it affects them or their children or their community...you need to hammer home what's wrong with the world as it is. Once you have got people roiled up, you can offer them a way to remedy the situation...When those feelings of anger are accompanied by the feeling that there is a solution to this problem, then the message is more likely to be persuasive.

8. Resistance isn't futile
...people are naturally suspicious of attempts to persuade them. This is especially true if they think they are being duped...Present positions closer to your target's views, then move them towards your goal a little at a time." You could also try charming them by boosting their self-esteem. When people feel good about themselves, they are more open to challenging messages.