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Argue effectively!


Anat: If you don't say that a problem is people-made, no one will believe it can be people-fixed. Don't say "People have lost their homes." No one loses their home; they get kicked out by other people. There aren't systems; there are people with addresses. No one loses their job; they get fired by another person. Argue effectively! Engage the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for arguing, and develops in adolescence. Argues that ladder of engagement is bull. DO NOT start with a small ask and then bring them up. DO NOT anchor at low points! Rubber band instead. Experiment: "I'm with children's charity. Will you take kids ot the zoo two hours tomorrow?" Only 17% says yes. Ask them to volunteer weekly for two hours for a year. Then you make a smaller ask: "I know that's a big ask. Can you just come tomorrow for two hours?" 53% say yes. 300% improvement! "Anchoring"!! And acknowledging it's a big ask draws them in-- now they owe you because you *contracted* the ask. Thinking fast and slow!! If you give people something that they don't even want, then ask them for something you want, they are WAY more likely to do it. That's our culture. The reason we lose is that we ask too little. Stop positioning ourselves as losers! Samhita: But remember your different targets. You do need a ladder of engagement with low barrier entry points for people who want to just do something quickly and start to associate with a movement. Samhita: Also emphasizes the need for active campaigning, not passive. To be clear with what you want people to do. Give examples and direction. Sally: We have low expectations for people, too low. People need to be given substantive positions of volunteering and should be able to be given leadership roles. When attacked, try to find something you agree with opposition at the emotional level. DO NOT SAY "But" or "However." Say "AND THAT'S WHY" [our solution]. Anat echoes this: Connect with people as people. *********************** Tweet your thoughts to @Anita_Sarah. Thank you!


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