Power of Authority: Get What You Want

Ever wonder how you can 'increase your conversions'(get what you want) -- in ANY area of your life? Plenty of articles go into putting up sparklers or using old tricks. There are even books about gaining power by using under-handed methods. But you don't need to compromise your ethics in order to have more influence.

One thing you can do is consciously use the Power of Authority. When you feel like an authority, when you're seen as an authority - people respond. Here are some interesting and fun ways you can start to utilize the power of authority in your business and life.
[Story Continues]

If you've ever watched Boxing, then you know there is a huge build-up to the fight where it is promoted over and over, and where the boxers meet face-to-face and exchange threats or promises.A great fight is where neither fighter accepts the other as The Authority. There's more happening here than simple boasting. This is actually when the fight begins. This is the mental fight, where one fighter tries to assert his authority over the other. And the winner of this battle will almost always go on to win the fight.

If only you could talk tough to your customers in order to get them to make purchases. That would make for interesting commercials.

Here are a few

Ways to Build Authority

βν Hypnosis/Body Language: You do it subconsciously - now do it on purpose. The technique is called pacing or mirroring. If you're talking to someone and you want to influence them you start by matching their physiology - everything about their body: how they're sitting or standing, their breathing rate, the volume of their voice etc.... Think of this as putting them to sleep. Now...you tell them what you want them to do - you Lead Them. You change one or 2 things and watch them follow you. You were talking slowly - say something a bit faster and watch them follow you. Now you take them where you want them to go: A Sale.


NOTE: You can and should be doing this on your website too - but instead of trying to pace, you just lead the whole way and lead long enough for the visitor to submit and unconsciously start following. This is what long sales pages aim to do.

I personally believe this works for 2 reasons. 1)It actually is true and 2)When you believe it's true you're vastly more influential in whatever you're doing.

βν Symbols. Shapes. Etc There's a great story in one of Tony Robbins' books where he is negotiating a contract with the US Military.


The officer walks into the empty room, and he is in FULL UNIFORM complete with every star and badge he had ever achieved. Before a word is exchanged he's already communicating authority. He walks around Tony and sits behind his huge desk in his over-sized leather chair, while Tony sits in his small metal folding chair.(Not quite but you get the idea.) The terms of the contract are delivered to Tony and for some time it appears this officer will not budge.

Somehow it happens that both men, while talking, find themselves standing - a situation Tony immediately exploits by walking around the desk as they continue talking. He places himself exactly where the large chair was and the officer is now where visitors sit - the entire room is designed to communicate authority to the one behind the desk, and submission to the one in front of it. "Suddenly" the officer is open to Tony's ideas and eventually the officer relents. Tony gets his desired price.

Badges. Seals. Furniture Arrangements. They can all be used to communicate authority and you have the opportunity to use them on every piece of marketing material you have.
(See my article on The Power of Shapes in Business for more.)

βν Experience & Testimonials. I didn't want this article to get too long so I'll simply say this: When you can show that other people HAVE ALREADY seen you as an authority - showcase that fact. And when you've been doing something for a long time - don't be shy to let people know that either. A long history = Authority. Couple that with the above mentioned and you'll be a force.

Use these methods to communicate authority in every area of your business, from the way you speak to the way you communicate your message on your website. When you properly display authority you will inevitably see people respond to you more favorably. Use it in your business: website, business cards, uniforms. Use it in your resumé. Use all over your life!