Make Ideas Your (& Their) Own: Persuade Yourself and Others

Have you ever watched a TV program where the supporting actor has
a grand idea only to find the lead actor immediately repeat the
idea as if it were his own?

You've probably experienced it yourself! It goes something like:

Friend: "I've got it! We should go to Sparky's for dinner!"
You: "Hmm... how about we go to Sparky's for dinner?"
Friend: "That's what I just said!"
You: "No you didn't!"

Well, there's a reason for those common conversations. It's because
the best ideas are
ones we personally created and we often don't hear other ideas
unless it comes from our own mouth.

We closely identify with and remember ideas and strategies that
we come up with on our own. It's just the inherent way our brain
works.

That's why it's so difficult to understand something that you
just "copy" down or something that someone else has told you
about in a meeting or lecture.

Persuading People with Ideas: Making Ideas Their Own

In persuasion, it's vital to make your idea sound as if it came from
the other party. That's the only way they'll understand and
accept your stance.

To show this, let's go back to you and your friend:

Friend: "I've got it! We should go to Sparky's for dinner!"
You: "Hmm... how about we go to Sparky's for dinner?"
Friend: "That's a great idea, I like it!"
You: "Thanks! Let's go and eat!"

So now we notice that you've reached consensus with your friend. He
actually made it sound as though the restaurant selection was
your idea, not his. This might make you feel more confident and
in control. Besides, your friend got what he wanted because you
were seemingly persuaded in the first place.

Learning Concepts: Making Ideas Your Own

Our ideas help facilitate learning and memorization as well. If you
find yourself struggling to memorizing facts, figures or diagrams for
a presentation, exam, or speech, try to completely understand the
inner workings first.

Take Ownership

So that means you need to take ownership – identify with the
idea. Make the idea your own in some way and you'll be more
likely to memorize it, after all, we always seem to remember what
we can explain.

Perhaps you can try to:

1. Create personal associations with the idea and its uses. How have
I experienced this in my every day life?

2. Envision each step and process from beginning to end. How will
the idea work? How will you use it?

3. Begin thinking of the idea from different angles.
What if you changed it in some way? Will this tweak make it more
memorable? You'll absorb more, learn quicker, and improve your
memory. As a side benefit, you might even become more confident
with your knowledge base and even persuade people.

Give it a try. How are you more effective?

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© Copyright 2004, Ronnie Nijmeh, ACQYR.com. The ACQYR team
provides the masses with witty yet strategic ideas leading to self-
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