10 Ways to Get Things Done: Mastering the Art of Persuasion

Unlock the power of influence and collaboration with these science-backed techniques to get people on board—whether at work, home, or anywhere else.

Have you ever found yourself desperately trying to get someone on board with your idea or to take action, only for them to refuse? Yeah, me too!

It’s frustrating but totally normal. Persuasion is an art—a quirky mix of psychology, timing, and connection. It’s not about twisting arms but inviting collaboration. Whether you’re convincing your roommate to finally tackle the dishes or pitching a bold idea at work, mastering persuasion is like unlocking a superpower.

Let’s dive into 10 fun and effective ways to get things done and charm people into saying yes—without feeling pushy or manipulative.

What is Persuasion, Anyway?

Persuasion is the art of influencing someone’s thoughts, decisions, or actions. It’s about framing your ideas so they resonate. Think of it like being a storyteller—capturing attention, sparking interest, and leading people to a natural conclusion. Now, let’s get into the techniques that make it happen.

1. The Framing Technique

"The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives." – Tony Robbins

How it works: How you present something changes how it’s received. Highlight the upsides and reframe challenges as opportunities. Take the classic example of a glass that is ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’ – the first phrase sounds much more positive, even though the same object is being described in both instances.

Framing has three core elements:

• Placement – Choosing the right time, place and people to communicate with

• Approach – Carefully constructing how your argument is presented. People are more likely to respond better if you explain the positives of your viewpoint, rather than any potential downsides

• Words – Selecting the most appropriate words to explain your viewpoint

Example: Instead of saying, “This project is going to be hard,” try, “This project will push us to innovate and stand out.”

Why it works: We’re naturally drawn to opportunities over risks. Marketers nail this by saying, “Save 30%” rather than, “Pay 70%." How? Because it feels like win to the customers!

2. The “We“ not “You“ Technique

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller

How it works: Team up! Talking about shared goals makes people feel included and invested. By using the word ‘we’ instead of ‘you’, you’re saying that the other person’s opinions or strategy is relevant to the whole team, rather than just to their vested interests.

Example: “If we tackle this together, we’ll be done in no time,” beats, “You should really do this for me.”

Why it works: Everyone loves being part of a team—it’s hardwired into our brains. Plus it’s far more appealing than being left out.

3. Confidence + Clarity = Credibility

"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said." – Peter Drucker

How it works: Be bold! Prepare what you want to say; make sure you have everything clear in your own mind before tackling a tricky conversation. When speaking, avoid filler words – such as ‘umm’, ‘err’ or ‘like’ – because these suggest that you’re struggling to express your message or are uncertain about its validity.

Example: Instead of, “Maybe we could try this?” go for, “I believe this is the best path forward because it meets X and Y goals.”

Why it works: If you speak confidently, clearly and concisely, people are more likely to listen to you, to take what you have to say seriously, and to agree with you.

Pro tip: People trust confident speakers… even if their facts aren’t 100% solid. Wild, right?

4. “What’s In It for Them?” Approach

"People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it." – Simon Sinek

How it works: Make the benefits crystal clear—how will this idea improve their life? If someone can see and appreciate that agreeing with you will offer advantages to them personally, they’ll be much more inclined to agree with you.

Example: “This new tool will save you 3 hours a week” beats “I think we should use this tool.”

Why it works: One great way of persuading people is to explain the benefits that will affect them specifically.

Real-life magic: Every "Buy One, Get One Free" promo works this way.

5. Scarcity and Urgency

"You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." – Wayne Gretzky

How it works: FOMO is real. People act fast when they think they might miss out. Think about the limited-edition products that brands launch – the fact that consumers believe they may miss the opportunity to own something new makes them rush out to buy them.

Example: “There are only two spots left for this workshop!”

Why it works: Limited time offers aren’t just tactics—they’re irresistible psychological triggers. Creating a real need for something, or a time constraint, makes people want something more than if it were abundantly available.

6. The “But you are free“ Technique

"The best way to persuade people is with your ears—by listening to them." – Dean Rusk

How it works: Give people the space to choose. Ironically, it makes them more likely to agree. And it’s a devastatingly easy strategy to put into action: simply remind the people you’re talking to that they are free to make a decision on the subject you’re discussing, and they will be more disposed to agree with you.

Example: “You’re free to say no, but this could make a big difference for us.”

Cool fact: A 2013 review of 43 research studies, which involved 22,000 participants, found the ‘but you are free’ (BYAF) technique to double the chances that someone would say ‘yes’ to a request.

7. Social Proof = Instant Cred (“It’s working for others“ Approach)

“To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful.” – Edward R. Murrow

How it works: We’re wired to trust what’s popular. Show that others are on board. People naturally look to others to make their decisions and influence their behaviour. For example, if a crowd of people are looking up at something then we’ll automatically do the same, and continue to look even if there’s nothing there, because we believe there must be something if others are looking.

Example: “80% of our team already uses this method with great results.”

Why it works: Think about online reviews—they’re persuasion gold. This ‘herd effect’ can be used to persuade, too: pointing out that a particular service or strategy is being used by a lot of people in your industry or profession can seal the deal.

8. The Foot in the Door Technique.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." – Lao Tzu

How it works: Get a small yes first. It paves the way for bigger asks later. In a sales environment, this is known as the ‘yes ladder’ – by getting someone to agree with a minor point, or to carry out a smaller task, you will be more likely to get them to agree with a bigger project.

Example: “Can you proofread this one page?” turns into “Great, can you review the whole deck?”

Why it works: Once someone agrees to the initial request, they begin to see themselves as cooperative or supportive. + People feel motivated to act in ways that align with their prior commitments, avoiding cognitive dissonance.

Pro tip: This is why free trials exist—small commitments lead to bigger ones.

9. Back It Up with Data

"In God we trust; all others bring data." – W. Edwards Deming

How it works: Numbers don’t lie—and people love stats. If you have evidence and data that supports your idea – whether that’s from academic studies, surveys you’ve spotted in the press, examples of good industry practice, or research that you’ve undertaken within your organization – your proposal will carry more weight.

Example: “This approach improves efficiency by 30%” feels way more legit than, “I’m pretty sure this will work.”

Why it works: Concrete evidence builds trust.

10. Make It About Their Choice

“People are generally better persuaded by the reasons which they have themselves discovered than by those which have come into the mind of others.” – Blaise Pascal

How it works: Present the idea, but frame it as their decision by subtly guiding them toward the desired outcome. Highlight the advantages of your preferred choice without being overtly pushy. Let them feel the decision is entirely in their hands.

Example: Imagine you're trying to convince your team to use a new project management tool. Instead of saying, "We should use Tool B," you might frame it as:
"We could stick with Tool A, which has served us okay, or we could explore Tool B, which seems like a stronger choice based on its ability to reduce workload by 20%."

Why it works: It works because people value autonomy and are more inclined to act when they feel the decision is theirs. Imagine you are in your room casually sitting getting bored and you realise there’s a pile of clothes at the other end of the bed, you gather motivation and are almost about get up and clean the mess. And suddenly you mom enters your room, and tells you to clean the mess. Andddd BOOM. Motivation gone. That pile is going to remain there for another week now! Now, why did this happen? Because you felt like you lost the hold of your decision!

Tip: Use this technique thoughtfully and authentically. Overuse or perceived manipulation can backfire, leading to resistance or damaged trust.

The Secret Sauce of Persuasion

These techniques work because they’re grounded in empathy, connection, and trust. Persuasion isn’t about manipulation—it’s about aligning goals and helping others see the value in your perspective.

So… What’s Your Go-To Persuasion Hack?

Which one of the above is your favourite? Have you tried any of these techniques before? Make sure you drop your answer in the comments! And the next time you’re stuck trying to get someone on board, channel these tips. You’ll be amazed at how often you’ll hear a big, enthusiastic “YES!”