Persistence and Logical Reasoning

Persistence is a very effective strategy for convincing others in difficult situations.

Many people give up easily at the first sign of resistance, but the key to assertiveness is to keep repeating your message until the other person gives in or reaches a compromise.

However, persistence alone can come across as stubbornness; therefore, it is important to complement it with logical reasoning to make the message more powerful.

Persistence to reach an agreement

People have a threshold. After a certain number of times a message is repeated to them, they become more likely to give in.

For example, if you have an employee who is consistently late, the key is to repeat the key message "you can't be late anymore" several times throughout the conversation.

This repetition, along with rational justification, makes the message stick and harder to ignore.

Intelligent reasoning

For persistence to be effective, the key message must be backed up with logical arguments.

In the example of the late employee, the justification is not only based on "must be in by 9 a.m.," but also on the negative consequences for the company's reputation and the potential loss of customers.

This justification makes the situation not personal, but a company problem that the employee must solve.

Intelligent reasoning disarms resistance and makes the other person more likely to comply with the request.

Negotiating a compromise

Sometimes persistence and logical reasoning are not enough, and it is necessary to suggest a workable compromise.

A workable compromise not only maintains a positive relationship, but also helps the other person, who may be stubborn, to find a solution.

For example, the employee who arrives late could be offered to start work 30 minutes earlier so that he or she can leave 30 minutes earlier.

This alternative solution demonstrates that you are not looking for a punishment, but for a solut