Sleight Of Mouth

Sleight Of Mouth

In continuing with our discussion of conversational hypnosis we’re going to look at a persuasion technique known as sleight of mouth. This phrase is obviously a takeoff on the magician’s slight of hand technique. Sleight of hand tricks employ distraction. So would it be safe to call slight of mouth a trick, or distraction even? Perhaps, but not always.

Once again, sleight of mouth is nothing more than employing powerful persuasion based on signals given by an individual. People are constantly sending out messages about themselves that open inroads to persuasion.

As with covert hypnosis, slight of mouth is not a license to control someone. And even if you did have mischief on your mind you’d still need an individual’s permission to persuade them. We’ve covered that topic in two previous entries titled Conversational Hypnosis and Covert Hypnosis.

In fact, the techniques we’ve explored in the previous two posts are interchangeable under any of the titles. Covert hypnosis, conversational hypnosis and sleight of mouth all use the same techniques, only their names differ.

The key to effective persuasion is to first establish rapport. Without that, you have little chance of making another do anything they wouldn’t want to do. Okay, with the introductory stuff out of the way let’s look at another of sleight of mouth technique.

Left and Right Brain Orientation
People make sense of their world according to their neurological wiring. Those who are left brain dominant tend to focus on details. People who are right brain dominant tend to focus on the bigger picture and often avoid details leaving them for others to handle. How might this information be useful in a persuasion situation? Well, it always starts with rapport. You have absolutely no chance of persuading anyone without it.

Once you’ve established rapport you begin looking for signals and signs of left or right brain dominance. If you’re old enough to remember The Odd Couple, you’re looking at nearly perfect polar left, right brain opposites with Felix on the left and Oscar on the right. Right brain folks are often dreamers and sometimes pursue their dreams irrationally. Obviously, this would be an extreme.

Left brain orientation is exactly the opposite. On the far end of the scale we notice people almost obsessed with details and unable to make decisions without lots of deliberation, planning and thought. I’m using extremes in this example to make a point and not deliberately painting either as right or wrong.

So how can we use this information for persuasion? Determine where your subject is with regard to their neurological wiring and deliver your pitch designed to suit them. You might appeal to the dreamer with lofty possibilities and to the detail person suggesting testing and evaluation.

You’d appeal to the left brained individual by suggesting lists and surveys and spreadsheets and order. Or perhaps outside a business or office situation you might talk about safety or security or neat little stacks and piles of this or that. Get into their world and show them you can relate.

For the right brainer you’ll want to talk about realizing their dreams and desires. These folks are often artistic or musical so you might want to go down that road with them. And they often avoid discussions of particulars or details suggesting that such things are assigned or outsourced to others.

Of course not all people will fall perfectly into any category. But when you take the time to listen and observe, you can definitely have the persuasive advantage.

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