The Socrates Secret

Socrates was one of the worlds greatest

philosophers the worlds ever known. He did

something that only a handful of people

throughout

history have been able to do,and that is to change

the whole course of human thought.Centuries

after his

death he is honoured as one of the wisest

persuaders ever to have graced this planet.

His Method?

His whole technique, now called the "Socratic

Method" was based upon getting a "YES,YES"

response. Asking questions with which his

opponent would have to agree,he kept asking

questions,winning admission after admission,until

finally one finds themselves, embracing a

conclusion, that only minutes ago you would have

emphatically apposed.

When talking to people,don't begin by discussing

the things on which you differ.Rather speak of

the

things on which you agree.Keep emphasizing the

fact that you are both striving for the same

thing.The

Key Repetition for emphasis! Emphasize that there

is only one difference,one of method more than

purpose.

Get the person saying Yes Yes....A No response is

a very difficult obstacle to overcome,as a "NO",

subconsciously tells a person to stay constant

.When you say "NO",all your pride of personality

demands that you remain consistent with yourself

. You after

saying no, may feel ill advised,but nevertheless

,there is your precious pride to

consider.Start a person on the affirmative.Its a

very simple technique - this "Yes" response.And

yet how much,it is neglected!It often seems as

if

people get a sense of their own importance by

antagonizing others at the outset.

A skillful speaker, from the outset gets a number

of "YES" responses. This puts into motion a

mindset,a psychological process that has your

Listeners moving in the affirmative direction.An

illustration of this is,if you were to Propel a

ball in one direction, it would take an enormous

amount of force to deflect it; in fact far more

energy,than when you first started it, on its

original path.

All you need to do, is think that when a person

says "NO",and really means it,that every

molecule

every ounce,of their being, gathers together into

a condition of rejection.When to the contrary, a

person says "YES",has none of the withdrawal

activities take place.

The next time we are tempted to tell someone that

they are wrong, try the subtle art of "Socrates

Method",asking gentle questions that encourage

"Yes" responses. I believe its the Chinese that

say it Best, in a wise old proverb saying,"He

who

treads softly will go far"

PRINCIPLE #4

Get the other person saying "Yes,Yes" immediately