The Art of Persuasion: How to Make any Audience Say “Tell Me More”

You walk into a room—or hop onto Zoom—ready to present your idea.
You know it’s solid. You’ve done your research. You’ve rehearsed your key points.

But somewhere between slide 4 and your last slide, something happens, or maybe we should say, something doesn’t happen.

Your audience members:

• Stop making eye contact with you.

• Start pulling out their phones.

• Clap politely at the end and thank you for your time.
  

What went wrong?

Maybe your mistake was that you informed them. 

You didn’t persuade them.

Persuasion Is Not about Talking People into Something.

Persuasion about engaging your audience, making them lean in.

It’s about making them believe that you see their problem, understand their world, and have a meaningful solution that will make their lives better.

It’s about getting them to say: “Wait—tell me more about that.”

What Most People Miss about Creating a Persuasive Message

Most people focus on what they want to say, instead of focusing on what their audience needs to feel in order to do what they need them to do.

Persuasion isn’t about clever words or flashy slides. 

Persuasion is about alignment. When your message speaks directly to your audience’s pain points, priorities, and goals, they see themselves in your words—and they want to know more.

That’s when you move from “Nice presentation.” to “How can I get involved?”

The 4 Keys to Creating a Persuasive Message

1. Lead with the Problem—Not the Solution

Instead of jumping into the brilliance of your solution, start with a story that paints a picture of the problem that is bothering your audience and your ideal clients:

• What are they frustrated with?

• What are the consequences of this problem?

• What kind of pain is this problem causing? 

• How is it making their lives harder and more stressful?
  

When you lead with a story that illustrates their pain, you get their attention. And when you tell them about your solution, it will have a place to land.

2. Clearly Explain Your Solution

This is the place for information. Tell your listeners about your solution in language that is descriptive, accurate and accessible to them. Borrow their words. Mirror their priorities. Skip the jargon.

What do you do?

How does it work?

If you have painted a robust picture of the problem, every aspect of your solution and how it solves the problem should make sense to your audience.

3. Paint a Picture of the Transformation Your Solution Creates

Continue the story to share the difference your solution makes in the lives of the people who use it. How are your client’s lives changed once they interact with your solution?

• What gets easier?

• What improves?

• What are they able to do now that they couldn’t do before?

Use vivid, specific language to help your audience visualize the outcome. Reuse the same words from the problem description for clarity and consistency, making your message easier to understand.

4. Ask for Feedback

Sometimes it’s appropriate to ask for resources, but you can also ask for
feedback.

Try:

• “Is there anything about what I’m proposing that surprises or worries you?”

• “How do you see this fitting into our current workflow?”

• “Which piece of this solution interests you the most?”
  
  

Turn your message from a monologue into a moment of connection.

💬 Final Thought: Persuasion Isn’t Manipulation—It’s Partnership

When you align your message with what your audience cares about, persuasion happens naturally. You’re not pushing—you’re getting them to lean in.

They don’t just hear your idea;
They feel it.
And they want to be part of it.

That’s the art of persuasion. 

The good news is, it’s a skill every leader can master.

Are you wanting to improve your persuasive skills? Take a look at the Coaching Packages offered by clicking HERE.