Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

In today’s business environment, it’s not enough to tell employees to do something.

You need to also explain why they should. This is why people who’ve mastered the art of persuasion rise to the tops of the ranks. When trying to influence others, avoid three of the most common mistakes:

The hard sell. Being insistent and exuberant at the outset gives potential opponents something to grab on to. Use finesse instead of brawn.

Resisting compromise. Compromise does not equal surrender. Listen to others and when possible, integrate their ideas into the solution.

Assuming you have one chance. Persuasion is a process, not a one-time event. Get results over time by listening, proposing a position, testing it, and then refining it.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from Harvard Business Review on Communicating Effectively.

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