If you are a student, a lawyer, a businessman, or any other career that requires strong and effective communication skills (or plan to be!), persuasive communication is an essential skill. But, it sounds much more complicated than it actually is! Take a look at these phrases that you can use at the beginning or middle of your sentences to immediately sound more persuasive.

1. On the other hand…

“On the other hand” can replace “but”. It sounds more formal and is effective to make strong statements.

See these examples:

• a. It seems like a great building, on the other hand, there are not many parking spots.
• b. I am happy that we chose to go away for the party. On the other hand, it would have been nice to get some things done at home.
• c. You have a big wedding planned. On the other hand, a small wedding would be more intimate.
• d. I feel bad for not welcoming him. On the other hand, he always tries too hard.

2. It has come to my attention that…

“It has come to my attention” is used when you are making light of a situation or making an announcement of something that was told to you.

See these examples:

• a. It came to my attention that some details were misplaced from the office.
• b. It has come to my attention that many people were annoyed by my judgments.
• c. The matter first came to my attention when I was working at the institute.
• d. It has come to my attention that many workers have been coming late to work.

3. Move forward

“Move forward” means to “go ahead”, or to “continue”:

• a. I think we can move forward from these negative comments. 
• b. All jokes aside, I think that we should finish these tasks and then move forward.
• c. It’s time for the prosecutors to move forward with the files.  
• d. If things are too complication at the studio, it makes it difficult to move forward with production.

4. Obviously…

Be careful not to overuse “obviously” but when you are able to use it, use it to make an impactful statement:

• a. With a $28 trillion global economy, the problem of child starvation is obviously not due to a shortage of means.
• b. Since he was obviously in a hostile mood, I chose to leave early, and change the discussion.
• c. There are several responsibilities that are obviously stated in the agreement.
• d. She was obviously uncomfortable during the take-off and kept holding her seatbelt.

5. Surely…

“Surely” is used to enforce a statement without a doubt:

• a. Surely, he’s not upset with the outcome.
• b. This fundraiser can surely carry out an event.
• c. A man who works on his goals will surely win.
• d. Surely, we will be home before the kids wake up.
• e. She surely knows how to work hard.

6. Regardless…

“Regardless” is used for something that is done or will be done without consideration.

• a. I will still protest, regardless of the situation.
• b. I am leaving the office, regardless if there is a meeting or not.
• c. He regularly travels first-class regardless of the price.
• 4. I will go regardless of the heat.
• 6. They will do it regardless of the consequences.
• 7. I’ll take the job regardless of the salary.

7. Although it may seem…

“Although it may seem” is used in replace of “even though it appears…”:

• a. Bad decisions are not the end of the world, although it may seem that way at the moment
• b. Although it may seem obvious, make sure your contract is on beneficial terms.
• c. Although it may seem like they are a happy family, they’ve had many martial problems over the years.
• d. Although it may seem like a loss, we note that this will be worth it later.

So what now?

Now it is time to practice!

Go over these examples and then try to make your own! If you have any questions or concerns, send us a message or leave a comment with your own examples.

Good luck!

Teacher Dawn

After a brief introduction of yourself, such as, “Hello, My name is ________, I’m a [include your job title] at [your workplace]”, consider using any of these opening lines to begin your proposal. Today, in the digital world, email is the most critical channel for business dealings.

Being able to set a strong, friendly, and direct introduction email to a perspective client is an essential skill. Read this again and again: friendly and direct is the key.

The slow approach: Works well for building trust

1. If you are looking to create a bond with a potential client, taking your time to build a bond with the potential client is a safer option. You can do this by reaching out to them for advice on what they are good at. Letting them know that they are the experts in their area will boost their interest in you (people respond well to compliments and questions in their knowledge).

Consider these opening lines after you introduced yourself:

“Hoping to get your advice on X.”

OR

“I know you’re an expert in (topic). I thought of you when I saw X and wanted to share it with you”.

Why do they work? It lets the other person know that they are the expert, and you are humbled to ask them for their expertise.

 You will create a bond or at least a conversation with the potential client. From there, you can continue building trust with that individual by asking more questions about their knowledge before you introduce your proposal to them and hopefully secure a meeting with them.

If you’re able to get a meeting from them, make sure to follow these tips:

1.       Research your contact before getting in touch.

2.       Work around your contact’s schedule.

3.       Come prepared for the meeting.

4.       Ask specific questions.

Also consider these tips when you are going to reach out to your potential client:

1.       Start with a positive tone.

2.       Come prepared with specific details.

3.       Make sure you are asking the right person.

4.       Don’t pretend you already know the solution.

The direct approach: Great for getting to the point more efficiently

The following open liners are all fantastic to use because they are straightforward, polite, and to the point! Why is this efficient? It truly does keep your message more concise and quick which may be beneficial for your potential client. So if you’re not wanting to create a bond a trust with them right away, make sure you keep it quick and polite!

So after you briefly introduced yourself, as seen above, continue with one of these opening lines:

“I have an idea to address (pain point)”

OR

“I help companies like yours solve by…”

OR

“What would it mean to you if your business was able to achieve (benefits)”?

Other things to consider

When you are sending a message to someone, make sure you have these tips in mind:

1. Make is personable for both ends: Show your personality and prove that you have done your research on that potential client.
2. Be concise, don’t write a book! They likely won’t read emails that are too long
3. Don’t try to use too many formal words, but don’t make it too casual – find the perfect balance!

So what now?

Now is a great time to practice! Create some examples on your own (even save a few as templates to use later on!) and then send them to a colleague or a friend who knows English well and request for feedback. Or, you can always send your examples to us and we can make sure that you are doing them correctly!

Good luck!

Your teacher,

Dawn