Navigating a Whackadoodle World: Guidepost Thirteen, or The Power of Persuasion and Influence

Past and present links to our episodes on Guidepost Thirteen: The Power of Persuasion and Influence

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“Would you say that I’m more of a carrot person, or a stick person?” she asked me one day while I was checking her math.

“Are you planning a masquerade costume party or something?” I asked without looking up.

“No,” she batted her hands at the air. “I’m talking about motivationally? Do you think I’m more likely to be motivated by a carrot, or a stick?”

“I think you’re probably like most of us,” I answered.

She waited for me to continue, but when she realized I was done, she threw her hands in the air and burst out, “And that it?”

“A bit of both,” I shrugged. “It always depends on the circumstances.”

“That is so not an answer.”

“Look,” I said, putting down my pen. “If someone really wants something, persuading them is easy. You may not even need a carrot to get them moving, and you definitely won’t need a stick. If someone wants something but is just uncertain, dangling the carrot in front of them can help get them moving. However, if someone is not just uncertain, but actually afraid, or unwilling to take action, you might need a stick to get them moving. Like I said, it depends on the circumstances.”

“But sometimes you do need a stick to persuade people?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “Some people will only change to a healthier diet when their doctor informs them that they are prediabetic. Some people only go to the dentist when they have a toothache. Some people only vote because they don’t want the other guy to win.” I picked up my pen, and continued checking her math.

“But which one am I?” she asked again.

Sighing, I threw down the pen again, “I’ve seen you go after things, and no one dare get in your way. I have also seen you hesitate when you are uncertain. And I know the only reason you study your math is because you don’t want to bring home a bad grade. Whether people are motivated by a carrot, or a stick will always depends on the circumstances.”

She let that go, and watched me for a while, then suddenly added, “I’d prefer being a carrot person.”

I closed my eyes, “Enough about carrots and sticks. Why don’t you post our articles about persuasion, while I figure out where your mistake is in question ten?”

Happily, she did.

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For those of you who have already read the above episodes, here is a link to our newest episode on the Power of Persuasion and Influence.

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“Now we remind people that if they know someone who could use the guideposts, they can share this post with a friend,” she said with satisfaction.

“Plus,” she added without looking at me. “I know the perfect quick post to put under Persuasion and Influence.”

“Which one?”

“The one that includes Dr. Robert Cialdini's Seven Principles of Persuasion,” she said brightly.

“That one’s pretty long,” I cautioned. “These last posts are supposed to be quick and fun.”

“But it’s a good one,” she insisted, and posted it anyway.

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