Most people need to hear something a few times before they really “get it.”
This is true for pretty much anything. If you’ve got kids, you definitely know what I’m talking about.
The reason for this is we don’t feel comfortable doing something unless it feels “familiar.”
Meaning we hear it or experience the idea enough times so that we start to really “get it” on our own terms. Once this happens, we really “own it,” so to speak, and it becomes “our idea,” rather than somebody else’s.
As I’m sure you’re aware, we don’t really like taking anybody else’s idea at face value unless we’ve had time to think about it for a while, and turn it over in our heads a few times.
Advertisers have known this for years. 80% of customers, of any product, won’t buy anything unless they’ve seen the offer at least five or six times.
This is important to keep in mind whenever you’re trying to get somebody to go along with your idea.
The first thing you should do is to know what it is they want, and then present your idea to them in terms that are easiest to accept.
Then realize it might take a few times. If they don’t “bite” on the first try, don’t give up.
I’m sure you know of plenty of happy couples that only became a couple after the guy or the girl presented their “offer” enough times so that it was finally accepted.
The paradox is that the longer it takes for them to accept your idea, the stronger they’ll accept it when they finally do.
If they accept it right away without any argument, they’ll likely change their minds later.
I’m sure you can think of a few examples of this.
One technique that can help out is to present your idea from several different angles, viewpoints, and perspectives, all within the same conversation or communication.
This has the same effect of seeing the same idea spread out across time.
In hypnosis, this is referred to “fractionation.”
Meaning you talk about your idea, then talk about something else. Then talk about your idea, from a different angle, and then talk about something else. Then talk about your idea from a different perspective, and then talk about something else.
Once you get the hang of it, you can present your idea five or six times within a twenty minute conversation, and it will have a dramatic effect.
This is pretty advanced level stuff, and only a few people know about this.
To learn even more, and take your communication skills to an entirely different level, click the link below: