Press/Articles/Books
Is it More Persuasive to Give Both Sides of the Argument?
When you want to convince someone that your point of view stronger than someone else’s, you might avoid mentioning any opposing opinions....
read moreAccomplishments or Potential to Achieve: Which is More Persuasive?
If you want to persuade your superior to promote you over someone else, you could emphasize what you have accomplished, or perhaps something else...
read morePersuasion: Make Your Expertise Known
If you are trying to persuade someone on a topic that you are knowledgeable about, convey your expertise up front. People who try to make a decision...
read moreUse Short, Vivid Stories to Influence an Audience
We know that stories can be entertaining and inspirational, but they also can be persuasive, for a reason many people are not aware of. When an...
read morePersuasive Writing: Change the Frame of Reference
The key to persuading an audience is your ability to overcome resistance, because persuasion is rarely necessary unless the audience doesn’t like...
read moreBe Persuasive: Present Your Request as a Future Commitment
If you want to persuade someone to do you a favor, you’re more likely to succeed if you present it as something that is a few weeks or months...
read moreA Simple Thank You can Motivate Others
A simple “thank-you” can go a long way. It is more than a polite gesture; it makes the other person feel more valued and competent. We...
read moreBeing Persuasive: Asking for Less can Lead to More
Too often, people ask for approval of their entire request, regardless of what it is. Asking for less the first time makes the request easier for someone to approve it, and if she approved it once, she is more likely to approve a subsequent request later.
read moreChoosing a Point of View: Be Consistent
People often begin reading a message and suddenly pause, uncertain who is speaking. Is this written from the writer’s perspective, or someone...
read moreUse Vivid Language to Persuade People to Accept Your Idea
Asking an audience to do something or to agree with your viewpoint is more persuasive when you use vivid language and description that enables people to visualize the impact on them and others.
read moreBy Ken O’Quinn
As a contributing author in this book on leadership, Ken offers insights and tips for managing difficult conversations, providing effective feedback, and being authentic. Order here.
Perfect Phrases for Business Letters (McGraw-Hill)
Provides the right words and phrases for any situation - quickly. The book was reprinted in Japanese because of high-volume sales there.
TD at Work — Business Writing for Managers
The Association for Talent Development invited Ken to write this 22-page booklet for the TD at Work series.
Current Blog Post
Researchers: Reading Bite-Size Bits of Information Hinders Our Thinking
Historically, humans have developed the brain capacity for "deep reading," that is, processing information, relating it to our existing knowledge, …