How to Answer: Do you consider yourself a persuasive person?
17. Do you consider yourself a persuasive person?
How to Answer
Part of being an excellent communicator is also having the power of persuasion when necessary. There is a difference between persuasion and debating - or even convincing. Persuasion is used when you want to influence someone rather than tell them that they are wrong, and you are right.
The power of persuasion is essential if you are selling or pitching anything. It is also a helpful skill when you want to gain momentum with your coworkers or have your boss better understand your approach on a project.
It is not a negative thing to be persuasive. Talk to the interviewer about whether or not you consider yourself to be a persuasive individual.
Answer Example
"I can be persuasive when it comes to helping my clients to understand the logic, or reason, behind a decision that my company has made. It's important to lay out the intentions of any change and then express the importance of those changes."
Admin
"I have used the power of persuasion at work when it comes to gathering information from a client. For instance, if they do not want to leave a message for the person they are trying to reach, I will influence them to leave a message by stating that it will be more efficient for them, and faster response time will occur if they leave a message."
Manager
"Persuasion is a key skill of an effective leader, in my opinion. Have you ever read the book, 'Pre-Suasion,' by Robert Cialdini? He speaks of the science in persuasion and that there are significant moves to be made before ever asking someone to do something on your behalf. This book has greatly influenced how I use persuasion."
Marketing
"Persuasion and digital marketing methods go hand in hand so, yes, I believe that I am a persuasive person. My approach is not sly or combative in any way, however. I go about persuading others by displaying how my approach, or belief, could benefit the other party. In my case at work, the client."
Retail
"Persuasion is important in sales, and through the training that I received in my current role, I believe that my persuasion skills are much stronger than they once were. I am still working on them; however!"
Sales
"Persuasion is everywhere - from the conversations we have to the things that we buy. I am persuasive with my clients but not immediately. I first ensure that the groundwork is present, there is rapport, and enough supporting evidence that my path is the way that benefits everyone involved, as much as possible. I need to be able to prove the upside to whomever I speak to."
Teacher
"As an educator, persuasion is in everything that I do. I need to gain buy-in from my students when it comes to having them believe that what I am teaching is important. I spend much of my day making statements of persuasion."
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I can be persuasive when I have a project that I would like to embark on to get buy-ins from Management. Persuasion is part of a skill set for effective leadership."
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