How to Change Minds (Without Losing Yours)

Change minds by understanding how people think. It’s not about your ideas. It’s about their way of seeing the world.

Get out of your head and into the heart of others to learn how to change minds.

1. Change Minds by Connecting with Their Reality

You can’t lead people to a new perspective until they feel seen in their current one. When someone is upset, don’t tell them to calm down. Validate their emotion. Say, “That’s frustrating!” or “I’d be mad, too.”

Match their emotional state first. Then guide the shift.

2. Change Minds by Getting Curious, Not Critical

Don’t assume someone’s beliefs are irrational. Ask yourself, How are they making sense of this? Find the reasons behind beliefs.

Get to the point you can argue for someone’s position, even if it isn’t yours.

3. Influence by Shifting from “Should” to “Could”

“Should” creates resistance. Asking what they could do opens possibility. Explore options together.

Ask, “What needs to be true for you to consider this alternative?”

4. Influence by Crafting Solutions Together

People adopt ideas they help shape. Ask questions that guide reflection:

• “What would success look like for you?”
• “What’s the risk if nothing changes?”

Create ownership by letting others do the work.

The ideas in this post are inspired by the new book The Difference that Makes a Difference by, Josh Davis, PhD, and Greg Prosmushkin.

5. Change Minds by Co-Creating a Desirable Future

Help people define what they want, not what they want to avoid. Change is easier when the path forward is energizing, specific, and attainable.

Bottom line: Changing minds starts with understanding people. Influence grows not through pressure, but through empathy, clarity, and partnership.

Which idea in this post can you apply to your leadership?

What is essential to influencing the way people think?

How to Change People

3 Creative Ways to Cultivate Meaningful Connection

—

Previously Published on leadershipfreak with Creative Commons License

***

Does dating ever feel challenging, awkward or frustrating?

Turn Your Dating Life into a WOW! with our new classes and live coaching.

Click here for more info or to buy with special launch pricing!

***

If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today.

All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.

Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.

On Substack? Connect with us there.

—

Photo credit: unsplash

The post How to Change Minds (Without Losing Yours) appeared first on The Good Men Project.

View the full article