How to Use Tie Downs in Persuasive Communication

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Speak with energy and enthusiasm.

   Tie downs won't work if you have a negative or neutral tone.
   
   Having energy and enthusiasm when you speak makes a world of difference.
   
   Many times, it’s not what you say but how you say it.
   
   This is hard to convey through text, but let’s say you are telling someone about a party.
   
   You can say "Hey man, there’s a party this weekend, you should come..." or "Hey man! There’s this awesome party this weekend! You gotta be there!!" Practically the same words but said with more excitement can be the difference between whether that person comes to the party or not.
2. 2

   Step 2: Elicit a response.

   Throw in a few words in or at the end of your statement that requires some sort of acknowledgment from your listener.
   
   The agreement can be in the form of a verbal response (“yes”, “of course”, “sure”), a head nod, or even attentive silence.
   
   A common way to use tie downs is to seek agreement with negative contractions: "Hey man! There’s this awesome party this weekend! You gotta be there!! You love parties don’t you!?" "Wouldn't it be great to be able to walk to town whenever you want?" Practice turning statements into questions by inserting these words into the beginning, middle, or end: don't (You want a king size suite, don't you? Don't you just love this window?) doesn't (It makes you feel great, doesn't it? Doesn't this apartment feel spacious?) isn't (Isn't this easy? The view is spectacular, isn't it?) wouldn't (Wouldn't it be great to look out the window and see your kids playing there? That would be amazing, wouldn't it?) can't (It just can't get any sunnier than this, can it? Can't you just imagine what summer is like here?) Make a statement, followed by "...right?" Usually this is paired with a statement about what the listener wants. ("You want to get out of here as quickly as possible, right?" "You're looking for the best deal, right?") For some people whose native language is not English, such as people whose first language is Spanish, the word "no" can be used in the same way: "You're looking for a 2-bedroom apartment, no?"
   
   While tie-downs can be used for strong, persuasive statements ("This car would look nicer with a sunroof, wouldn't it?"), they're most handy for getting agreement on minor points.
   
   The more you can get a person to agree with you, even about little things like the weather ("Oregon summers are fantastic, aren't they?), the more receptive they will be overall.
   
   Agreement implies empathy, and empathy garners trust. , Tie downs are also a good way to slip in a subconscious command.
   
   Make a list of things you want the listener to do, such as: trust me, buy today, sign now.
   
   Then figure out ways to incorporate them into a tie down.
   
   Since embedded commands work on a subconscious level, they don't even have to be used in the context you're after; they only need to sound like the command, and the subconscious mind will likely interpret it the way you want it to be heard.
   
   For example: "Time flew by today, didn't it?" Add a little extra emphasis to the command for maximum effect.
   
   This is one of many subconscious persuasive techniques that can be used in conjunction with tie downs.
3. 3

   Step 3: Sprinkle minor agreements throughout the conversation.

4. 4

   Step 4: Embed a command.

Detailed Guide

About the Author