10 Comments to “Are You Convinced or Persuaded?”

1. November 6th, 2007 at 7:38 am
   Karin H. said

   Hi Liz

   Mind if I add option 3?

   I’m more an ‘Extender’ - hear the new idea and try to combine it with other - new or existing - ideas to see if mixed together it creates an even better or more practical one.

   Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

2. November 6th, 2007 at 8:09 am
   Ellen Weber said

   These two words are wonderfully interesting, and yet they mean the same to me in this sense:-) 1. I’d like to be convinced and I hope you convince me:-) 2), I’d like to be persuaded, and I hope you persuade me!

   Hey, Liz you do BOTH as Robyn and I see it — from over here at MITA International Brain Based Renewal Center:-) All to say … we’ll take either when you toss ‘em out — cause they are both fun when you roll them by us! I am both convinced and persuaded of that one!!!!

3. November 6th, 2007 at 8:23 am
   Brad Shorr said

   My first impulse is to shoot holes in an argument. It takes a lot of effort for me to sit back, try to see things from another point of view, and absorb an idea before passing judgment. However, sitting back leads me to fuller understanding and probably better decisions.

4. November 6th, 2007 at 8:33 am
   Shannon said

   I’m too stubborn to be convinced of most things. I often have to chew on it a while, come back with some questions, and try to make a determination if I am willing to agree with it.

5. November 6th, 2007 at 8:42 am
   Mike said

   It’s so much easier to come at a new idea from our personal perspective and make the idea sharer fit it to all of our existing prejudices.

   But it’s much more rewarding to explore how the new idea might enhance our mental models, and how our experiences might improve the idea itself.

6. November 6th, 2007 at 9:15 am
   Kusani said

   Good morning!

   Hm. To be bluntly honest, if the idea or concept is coming from someone I dislike/distrust, or if it’s something that clashes with what I already know or believe, I’ll do option one. I’ll poke holes if I can and let them try to defend their idea - not in a hostile manner, of course, but I can get very skeptical and analytical if I think the idea is coming from an untrustworthy source. It takes a lot, sometimes, to convince me if I know the presenter of the idea (which could be a medium or an organization, not just a person) is prone to spewing junk.

   -Most- of the time, however, I find myself doing option 2. I’m open-minded and usually willing to mentally experiment with new ideas and concepts. This does mean I have been too easily persuaded in the past, but I’m willing to keep trusting, despite the occasional stumbling block.

   Of course, Karin’s option three is fun, as well. =)

7. November 6th, 2007 at 9:36 am
   Travis said

   I’m a sucker for creative persuasion.

   If you can hook me in the first few seconds (whether that be in an ad, e-mail subject line, phone call, blog post, etc…), I’m more than willing to listen.

8. November 6th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
   LaurenMarie - Creative Curio said

   For some reason this reminds me of interpersonal relationships (maybe because I deal with this very thing?). When someone tells me how they feel or think I try to imagine what that is like for them. Not me in their shoes, but them in their shoes, with all their thoughts and experiences.

   As pertaining to new ideas, I like Karin’s suggestion. Very similar to How to Have Creative Ideas by Edward de Bono. That’s a great book for connecting ideas to each other. You may think they are unrelated until you take a closer look…

9. November 7th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
   ME Strauss said

   What a great discussion!

   Karin!
   Thank you. Extender is a great addition to the conversation. It’s a concept we all need to get better at doing.

   Ellen!
   You’ve persuaded me that I have a voice on the Internet. Nnow I’m feeling so responsible. Hmmm.

   Hi Brad!
   I know. It’s even harder when the holes jump out and grab you, isn’t it?

10. November 7th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
    Bridget Wright said

    I would like to think that I am a “convincer”. I’ve spent way too much time in my adult life just following the crowd so now I don’t take chances. Instead of just gullibly believing everything I’m told, I must be sold. I must be convinced.