The art of persuasion
Raintree Media / June 30, 2012 / Raintree MediaIndians have a big problem in closing sales. That is the considered opinion of experts. We have great ideas and when the deal is done, we are good at delivery. But, and it is a very big but, we have a hard time convincing somebody to invest in our idea or us.
I heard this from motivational speakers Dr John Demartini, Jeff Slayter and Kane Minkus. I could have easily taken this as just a sales pitch for their forthcoming workshop.
But not only were they speaking from experience, they were echoing the words of someone who deserves to be heard with respect – Ramesh Ramanthan, Founder of Janaagraha, who walks the talk.
Ramesh Ramanathan’s Janaagraha is a shining example of persuasion. |
Anyone who has tussled with the system would know how frustrating it can be. Getting our elected representatives and officials to allow people to take their place in a participatory democracy is a daunting task. Not many would persist in a thankless job.
How then has Janaagraha become successful? Its results come from the passion that drives Ramesh, Swati and their committed team members. It is volunteerism at its shining best. Ramesh says that the Government put incredible obstacles in their path but when it was convinced of their good faith, transparency and capabilities, it has extended co-operation.
There are lessons here for us – not just of moral duty but also in applying the same ‘relentless’ (as Ramesh puts it) approach in getting what we want.
![]() |
Ramesh and Swati |
The secret is this: if you are passionate about what you do, you can be successful. If you believe in it, you can sell your idea to others. If you want to convince your boss to give you a promotion, your client to give you an order, your partners to go along with your idea, you have got to believe in your premise and wake up every day with the determination to get it.
Sales is the art of persuasion and it is only when you have conviction in your cause whether it is of self-interest or civic sense, that you can be successful in persuading others.
By Sandhya Mendonca (Sandhya Mendonca writes a weekly column for the Herald Goa)
Recent Posts
Categories
Archives
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2019
- April 2019
- December 2018
- July 2018
- April 2018
- December 2017
- March 2017
- January 2017
- July 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- November 2015
- October 2015
- July 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- May 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- July 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- August 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- June 2009
- December 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006