Although Eve is best known as the woman made from Adam's rib in the the book of Genesis in the Bible, there are many subsequent literary interpretations of her. In most versions of creation, Eve is a knowledge-seeking temptress who uses her charms and an apple to persuade Adam to take the bite that changed the course of humanity.
In today's world, this same use of reward is prevalent as a means of persuasion. We are deluged by common options like "gift with purchase", "buy 2/get 1 free", "free airline miles/double airline miles"...the list goes on and on. Parents use this tactic with children very effectively; however, the liabilities surface quickly: the reward becomes expected, then it's not enough, and it becomes quite costly.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Consider Lady Godiva and her legendary ride in the nude. Frustrated with her husband, the earl of Mercia, for mercilessly taxing the inhabitants of Coventry, and responding to his own outlandish proposal, Godiva mounted a charger and rode through the marketplace completely unclothed. The humbled earl was indeed persuade to lift all taxes on the citizenry except those for keeping horses.
Godiva used two powerful tools of persuasion. The first is limited options - the earl had no real choice since it had been his idea in the first place. The second is time pressure - she had him under the gun to act immediately. Both of the tactics were effective because Godiva did not take the threat idly and was quite prepared to follow-through with the ride, her modesty maintained by her flowing hair.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Carry Nation took an entirely opposite approach in her colorful battle against evil alcohol. Having married a man who soon died from alcoholism, 6' tall Carry had a vision that instructed her to use a hatchet to smash saloons to smithereens, forcing them to close. She worked her way across the country striking fear into the hearts of saloonkeepers using her 200 pounds of fury, her hatchet and her powerful way with words.
Fear is an extremely persuasive tactic because people don't want to make a mistake, they don't want to be embarrassed, they don't want to lose and they don't want to get hurt. All of these possibilities, skillfully suggested, can be helpful in swaying a decision. Carry's miniature hatchets engraved with "Carry Nation - Joint Smasher" were the forerunners of today's commonly used specialty advertising leave-behinds, and just one more reminder of her fanatical goal.
Persuasion methods are as individual as the situation and the people involved. What has worked for you?
