Make Ideas Your (& Their) Own: Persuade Yourself and Others

 by: Ronnie Nijmeh

Have you ever watched a TV program where the supporting actor has a grand idea only to find the lead actor immediately repeat the idea as if it were his own?

You've probably experienced it yourself! It goes something like:

Well, there's a reason for those common conversations. It's because the best ideas are ones we personally created and we often don't hear other ideas unless it comes from our own mouth.

We closely identify with and remember ideas and strategies that we come up with on our own. It's just the inherent way our brain works.

That's why it's so difficult to understand something that you just "copy" down or something that someone else has told you about in a meeting or lecture.

Persuading People with Ideas: Making Ideas Their Own

In persuasion, it's vital to make your idea sound as if it came from the other party. That's the only way they'll understand and accept your stance.

To show this, let's go back to you and your friend:

So now we notice that you've reached consensus with your friend. He actually made it sound as though the restaurant selection was your idea, not his. This might make you feel more confident and in control. Besides, your friend got what he wanted because you were seemingly persuaded in the first place.

Learning Concepts: Making Ideas Your Own

Our ideas help facilitate learning and memorization as well. If you find yourself struggling to memorizing facts, figures or diagrams for a presentation, exam, or speech, try to completely understand the inner workings first.

Take Ownership

So that means you need to take ownership – identify with the idea. Make the idea your own in some way and you'll be more likely to memorize it, after all, we always seem to remember what we can explain.

Perhaps you can try to:

1. Create personal associations with the idea and its uses. How have I experienced this in my every day life?

2. Envision each step and process from beginning to end. How will the idea work? How will you use it?

3. Begin thinking of the idea from different angles. What if you changed it in some way? Will this tweak make it more memorable? You'll absorb more, learn quicker, and improve your memory. As a side benefit, you might even become more confident with your knowledge base and even persuade people.

Give it a try. How are you more effective?