How to Use Google Image Search to Develop Persuasive Metaphors
When we want to persuade, we often rely on facts and figures and ‘offers they can’t refuse’. Such techniques appeal to our minds. We like them, because they are logical. And the truth is, building a logical case is an important skill in a manager’s repertoire.
But it’s not enough.
Logical persuasion persuasion packs an even greater punch when combined with techniques that appeal to the heart, such as metaphors.
Metaphors connect two concepts that really have no business being together…”time is money” or ”business is war”. And when accepted and adopted by your team, metaphors will help guide their everyday actions.
Sean D’Souza of psychotactics.com has a great technique for coming up with metaphors. He uses Google.
Let’s say you want to inspire your team to cognizant of how they balance their responsibilities at work. If you simply search Google for ”balance”, you’ll have a difficult time weeding through all the information that is dumped back at you.
Instead, try using Google to search for images of ‘balance’ at http://images.google.com. Now you’ll find images of a balance sheet, a balance beam, yoga… all things you can use to paint a vivid metaphor of balance.
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