Management Tip of the Day: 3 Ways to Use Persuasion to Get What You Need

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile MARCH 15, 2013 3 Ways to Use Persuasion to Get What You Need In today's organizations, persuasion trumps formal power. To get things done, you need to be able to sway the undecided and convert opponents. Here are three ways to do that: Give what you want to receive. You can invoke reciprocity by giving exactly what you hope to get in the future. For example, lend a colleague one of your staff members when she needs help, and she may repay you later in kind. Make commitments public. People are more likely to follow through on commitments if they make them in front of other colleagues. Try asking people to volunteer or agree to things in meetings rather than in a private email. Use exclusive information. Influence key players' attention by sharing, for example: "Just got this information today. It won't be distributed until next week." Today's Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across. Buy the book and learn how to manage people who don't report to you » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across Ebook Now Available ARE YOUR WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WORKING AGAINST YOU? To achieve your goals and get ahead, you need to rally people behind you and your ideas. But how do you do that when you lack formal authority? Or when you have a boss who gets in your way? Or when you're juggling others' needs at the expense of your own? By managing up, down, and across the organization. Your success depends on it, whether you're a young professional or an experienced leader. The "HBR Guide to Managing Up and Across" will help you: (1) Advance your agenda — and your career — with smarter networking, (2) Build relationships that bring targets and deadlines within reach, (3) Persuade decision makers to champion your initiatives, (4) Collaborate more effectively with colleagues, (5) Deal with new, challenging, or incompetent bosses, and (6) Navigate office politics. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Eliminate Jargon from Your Next Presentation Make Your Writing Chronological Make the Most of Your Downtime Change Small Things, Not Your Entire Culture Build a Better Online Network Don't Make a Career Move You'll Regret How to Write Clearly Think Before Adopting the Latest Marketing Fad Encourage Employees to Want to Stay Use Questions to Build Your Case All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations HBR Guide to Better Business Writing HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)