Or I might note that my favorite spaghetti and meatballs will be easier to get ready, with my assistance, than the chicken, broccoli and rice that is on the menu instead.
The topic, whether serious or not very serious, personal or impersonal, affects my rhetorical strategy. When debating politics, I am more likely to use logic than an emotional appeal, which I may use when 'whining' for a treat. The audience affects my strategy, too. My father is less likely to be receptive to emotion, unlike my mother, for example, and my mother is also more prone to be 'guilt tripped' into doing something than my father. With my father, it is best to try to make it seem as if he has come up with the solution, not me. If I want some help with car repairs, instead of stating ' my car needs to be fixed, can I borrow some money to go to the mechanic,' it is better to ask him, 'do you think that my car needs to be taken to the shop, or can you help me fix its funny noise?' Then, when he sees he has no idea how to fix it, he may feel slightly ashamed, and come down with me to the shop, and perhaps even 'help me out' with what I anticipate to be an expensive repair.
Even the time of day and my assessment of the audience's mood can affect my strategy, especially if I am speaking to someone. Sending an email or a letter, the...
When speaking, I am unlikely to raise a contentious or serious issue with someone who is tired, angry, or who has had a bad day, unless their specific problems may make them more receptive to my needs, like my weary mother not wanting to cook a slow-roasting chicken for dinner.
What sources of influence do you use most frequently?
While these are just personal, common familial strategies, they are reflective of the fact that to be an effective persuader, no one can rely just upon one strategy. Speaking, gestures, words, all come into play when making an effective appeal. Sitting down, moderating one's tone of voice, and using concrete examples makes one seem more rational, rather than using a childlike tone, yelling, or sulking in silence. Words on paper may be too cool for an emotional appeal, or when discussing a hot-button issue they can make someone who is hot-headed and diametrically opposed to one's position slightly more receptive, especially if there are many complicated logistical issues or facts involved. The only certain thing about influence is that one method of influence is never applicable to all situations, and using the tools of influence at the right times is part of what makes someone an effective advocate.
