The 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, was one of the most tactful people and effective positive persuaders of all time.  When he was on the Illinois law circuit he often scored big points with judges and juries by using one very simple method of persuasion - he pointed out the other side's case before his own. He expounded on the feasibility of his opponent's views, and allowed everyone to see him as honest, fair, and genuinely concerned with justice for all.

This is an excellent idea whenever you are engaged in a disagreement with someone, either one-on-one or within a group of conflicting ideas. The more you can first point out the legitimacy of the other's views, the more accepting they'll be of yours.

Suggestion: Go even one step further. Actually "take" the other person's point of view. Take ownership of their position. See the situation as you believe they see it. Feel it as you believe they feel it. Put yourself in their shoes, and in their mind. Imagine it's you who feels that way and, in your mind, make their (your) case. Then, as mentioned earlier, make their case out loud.

One of two things will happen:

1. You'll ooze with credibility and open up this person's heart to being totally receptive to your point of view as well.

2. You'll possibly discover that you are not 100 percent correct (and, dare I say, even wrong) :-), and have learned something extremely valuable. Oh, how often it's happened to me!

Yes, actually feel their point of view, and make their case before making your own. Get into the habit of doing this on a regular basis and you'll become a WINNING WITHOUT INTIMIDATION machine!