The secrets of highly persuasive people, from a hostage negotiator to a TV producer
Some people are just charmers. They can sweet-talk an otherwise immovable doorman, cajole a small child into picking up their toys without protest, and smile their way to a freebie. But being a blagger isn’t the preserve of a select few loudmouths and self-aggrandising entrepreneurs; highly persuasive people walk among us. I know, I married one.
Lost the receipt? No matter; my nice, softly spoken husband somehow gets the item returned. A complimentary upgrade to business class? It has been known. He’s particularly astute at getting let off the hook – having a missed appointment fee waived, say. There was even the incident where he smashed a bus window (an accident, he maintains) and the bus company sent him a letter to apologise.
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