What I find really annoying and I think most would be the same is the belief that persistence alone will be the persuading factor.
I always thought it was weird in TV and movies when guys would pursue girls thinking ‘all I need to do is wear her down and she’ll be mine’
Same with sales people when they think if they call me everyday eventually I will crumble and give them all my money.
What about respecting people’s wishes and boundaries?
It seems like the annoying persistor continues to ask, hoping that the persistence will be viewed as flattery under a cheeky guise, and maybe that the no sayer will be a people pleaser who will eventually squash their own qualms to satisfy others.
If that is the case then that is a terrible approach to take.
The persistence also implies that the no sayer hasn’t fully considered the situation.
An implication which to someone who prides themselves on thinking deeply through their options before deciding, can be quite insulting.
I think the best persuaders first find out what is the other person’s goals, needs, and preferences.
They then make their pitch catering to those goals, needs, and preferences and if they say no, they accept that no and move on.
If the person changes their mind, they will seek you out.
Persistence is a fantastic quality but it should be used in the right way.
Persistence not aimed at another but aimed at oneself, in the realm of personal development.
Thomas Duggan 