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Willpower

Techniques > Willpower

Willpower seems important when trying to persuade, and it is. Whether you are trying to stop smoking or get a truculent teenager to comply, then the style and strength of your will is an important factor in whether you will succeed.

• Understanding Willpower: What is it?
  • What is Willpower?: Understanding what it is.
  • Self-Control: We use our will to control our urges.
  • Delayed Gratification: Putting off rewards.
  • Domination: Control of others.
  • Willpower as Muscle: Exercise and exhaustion.
  • Ego Depletion: The loss of ego as will fades.
  • How Will Fails: How we get it wrong and how to fix it.
  • Willpower Style: Four types of will situation.
  • Urge and Self-Control: Inner drivers.
  • Delayed Gratification: Putting off rewards.
  • Will and Power: The connection with power.
• Ways of Desisting (stopping something):
  • Interruption: Breaking the pattern.
  • Added Cost: Make it more costly.
  • Replacement: Doing something else instead.
  • Refusal: Just saying 'no'.
  • Changing Belief: To change how you act.
  • Remembering Values: Which often support desisting.
  • Refuting Excuses: Managing the internal talk.
  • Goal Focus: Remember the goal.
  • Shame Thinking: Consider how ashamed you will feel.
  • Take Glucose: Give yourself a willpower boost.
• Ways of Persisting (doing what you should):
  • Determination: Dogged persistence.
  • Rewarding: Getting something for doing the right thing.
  • Changing Belief: To change how you act.
  • Goal Focus: Remember the goal.
  • Future Focus: Think about all the benefits.
  • Pride Thinking: Think about how good you will be.
  • Take Glucose: Give yourself a willpower boost.
• How to Increase Your Willpower: Ways of building your will.
  • Start Small: Begin with easy things.
  • Visualize: Imagine clearly using willpower.
  • Be Charitable: Do things to help others.
  • Get Healthy: Go on a diet or get fit.
  • Resist Temptation: See it and don't do it.
  • Work Harder: Pour yourself into your work
  • Work Smarter: Change the way you work.
  • Think Right: Know the right thing and do it.
  • Resist Persuasion: Stand up to the will of others.
  • Challenge Others: Use your will with others.
  • Emulate Experts: Copy those who do it well.
• How to Persuade With Willpower
  • Escalation: Make it more important.
  • Build-Up: Steadily increase pressure.
  • Persistence: Not giving up.
  • Dripping Tap: Little and often.
  • Ganging Up: Bring in other people.
  • The Power Gaze: Hold their eyes to account.
  • Personal Attack: Provoke arousal.
  • Moral Support: Get friends to encourage you.
  • Willpower Language: Words that convey will.
• Articles on Willpower:
  • Conserve Willpower: Keeping your batteries fresh.

See also

Assertiveness, Habit

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