How to Get People to do What you Want?

You know you are right and so you want to get it done, what’s wrong with it? But how do you manipulate people into doing things that you want them to do?

When you know that your message is important and you want others to believe in it too, you’ll have to use multiple ways to get people to do what you want.

Your persuasive tactics strongly influence what you say, and what your audience retains. Your persuasion can actually benefit you if put into practice in the right manner.

Here are some ways that can help you make people do what you want them to do. Have a look.

How To Get People To Do What You Want?

#1. Use The “Decoy Effect”

Dan Ariely, a behavioral economist, explained the decoy effect in his TED Talk using the example of an Economist advertisement. The idea is to present your most expensive product in an enticing way to the consumers, by introducing a third model. The only function that the third model plays is to make the ‘expensive’ product look more enticing and benefitting.

You can use the decoy effect to get the most difficult or tricky things done by introducing a different task that only makes the previous ones more enticing and doable.

When you want to get people to do what you want, you need to know the art of controlling their mind. Once that is achieved you’ll surely get things done the way you want to.

#2. Twist The Environment To Make People Less Selfish

"Priming" is an influential psychological phenomenon in which one stimulus produces a specific response to another stimulus, often reflexively.

Studies suggest that to make people do what you want, you should always be particular about the venue that you chose to make the deal. While you make the bargain, the atmosphere should be relaxed and smooth. It is observed that holding meetings in offices or places where one can witness business-related objects can elicit competitiveness.

Consider convening your potential client or consumer or partner in a coffee shop or any such place which breathes calmness instead of a conference hall so that they are less inclined to aggression.

#3. You Scratch My Back; I Scratch Yours

Psychologist Robert Cialdini suggested that one way to get people to do what you want is by invoking the reciprocity norm, which basically implies that you help someone accomplish their goals and they’ll help you achieve yours in return.

When you help someone, they return your favor; not as a favor but as a responsibility. If you helped your partner in accomplishing a task, he/she’d help you think that it is what they are expected to do.

#4. Get Them To Like You

The best way to make people do what you want is by getting in their good books. It’s human nature to help the ones that we like. We don’t even mind going an extra mile for the people that we like and care about.

One interesting method of being liked is by mimicking the person you are trying to impress. Sounds funny? It may be, but it’s equally helpful. The next time you seek to impress your partner or a hiring manager, try subtly mimicking the way they sit or talk or walk. They won’t be offended but would be appreciative instead.

Scientists have named it the" chameleon effect ": humans tend to like to talk with partners who mimic their postures, mannerisms and facial expressions. The strangest part of this phenomenon is that most of the times it happens unconsciously.

 #5. Maintain Your Pace 

How you communicate your ideas is just as important as the substance of your argument. Research suggests that when someone disapproves your suggestions, you should start speaking faster, so they have less time to process everything that you say.

On the other hand, when you feel that your audience is convinced with your ideas, try to lower the pace of your speech, so to give them time to evaluate the content.  

How To Manipulate People To Get What You Want?

#1. Try To Confuse People 

This one’s interesting. When you want to get people to do what you want, just confuse them. Yes, you heard us right. This is known as the "disrupt-then-reframe" technique and is famous for being a sneaky way to get people to cooperate. Studies suggest that when you go out to sell a product or directly ask someone to do what you want them to do, the chances are they would reject the proposal. Therefore, use techniques that confuse your potential client or your partner and make them do what you want them to do.

Creating distractions confuse your audience, who as a result do not get much time to think and evaluate your proposal. They hear only what you want them to and agree to do what you want.

#2. Tell Them What You Want When They're tired

People say that business proposals or serious discussions should take place when you are in your best state of mind, we say do it otherwise.

An alert mind may express some doubt when approached but the tired or distracted mind will most likely be less critical, and will simply accept what you say. It is easier to convince people when they are tired because they won’t argue much.

So if you're planning to ask a coworker to help out with a project or your partner for a favor, it’s best to ask them at the end of the day. At that time, they’ll be too drained to resist or make an argument. They won’t have the mental energy to realize the potential or the risks involved in your project.

How To Make People Do What You Want?

#1. Make Them Know You Are Watching

Another interesting study suggests that people are more likely to keep a check on themselves when they see an image of eyes instead of roses or any other thing. The study says that people react when they are under scrutiny. Eyes typically indicate social scrutiny and help in preventing people from preventing litter or basically get people to do what you want.

#2. Use Nouns Instead Of Verbs

The use of words has a great impact on your audience. The correct usage can make a dead project your winning streak and a multimillion idea can be dumped if not articulated the right way.

It has been observed that replacing verbs with nouns can be really helpful in accelerating the effect of your message.

For example:

Two versions of the same question i.e.: "How important is it to you to vote in tomorrow's election?" and "How important is it to you to be a voter in tomorrow's election?" were used to convince people to vote. As per the results, people that came under the “voter” category were more likely to cast their votes. This is so because people are driven by the need of belongingness, and using a noun instead of a verb gives them an individual identity while being in a group.  

#3. Scare People To Get Them Do What You Want 

Research suggests that people who experience anxiety and then relief usually respond positively to requests.

For example, people who heard a shaking sound of thunder before reaching their offices were more likely to fill in the questionnaires they were asked to in comparison to the ones who did not hear the deadly roar.  

This is possible because their cognitive resources were occupied thinking about the potential danger they just encountered and therefore they had fewer resources left to think about the request that has been made afterward.

#4. Acknowledge Their Gains As Well 

Nobody in this world is selfless enough to do something for you without any returns; be it your boss or your partner. Therefore it is recommended to emphasize on what your partner gains as opposed to what they will lose while making the negotiations.

This will help you in persuading them into seeing things from a different perspective, a perspective that will make them do what you want.

We hope the article has been partially or fully helping you in convincing people to do the thing that you want them to do. Life is a game, and you need to play it right. There will be situations when you’ll be stuck between what’s right and what’s wrong; it’s about what you make of it.

Have you ever been able to convince someone into making people do what you wanted them to? How did you make it happen? Let us know in the comment section below.

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