We all know that people prefer to say "yes" to those they like. But many professionals go about building that liking the wrong way—using manipulative tricks like mimicking body language or inventing fake hobbies. There is a better way.

In this episode, Patrick explores the Principle of Liking. Research shows that a strong relationship can double your persuasiveness, and it doesn't require years to build. By understanding the science of how we connect, you can build genuine rapport in minutes.

✅ The "Mirroring" Trap: Why trying to mimic someone's body language often backfires and destroys trust (it's smoke and mirrors).

✅ The "Detective" Mindset: How to ethically uncover genuine similarities that trigger the "we are alike" shortcut in the brain without lying.

✅ The 3 Pillars of Liking: Why we trust people who are similar to us, say yes to people who show affection, and respond automatically to compliments.

✅ System 1 Speed: Why you don't need months to build a bond—your audience's intuitive brain can decide to trust you in just 10-15 minutes.

✅ The Power of Praise: A North Carolina study showing that compliments increase liking even when they are not 100% accurate (though we always recommend being genuine!).

✅ Case Study: The story of "Faith," who used this science to turn a hostile relationship with her manager into a friendly one in just seven days.

Stop acting and start investigating. Finding one genuine shared value is infinitely more powerful than faking a body posture.

❗️Your Ethical Persuasion Challenge❗️

Be a Detective: Before your next meeting, check the person's LinkedIn or social media. Find one genuine thing you have in common (a hobby, a value, a background) and bring it up naturally.

Commit to Learning (Consistency): If you're serious about mastering ethical influence, hit "Follow" on your podcast app now.

Spread the Love (Unity): If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague. It’s a great way to build a relationship with them (by giving value) and helps us grow the community!

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 2: The Science of Human Decision-Making - Stop Talking to the Wrong Brain

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Patrick’s Social Media Links

Podcast : https://ethicalpersuasion.com.au/podcast/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ethicalpersuasion

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-van-der-burght/

Facebook - https://web.facebook.com/ethicalpersuasion/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ethical_persuasion/

Twitter - https://x.com/yesmoreoften

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