The ability to persuade people is a crucial skill for leaders, and you can cultivate it with several techniques, including showing others what they will gain by doing what you're asking, telling them they're free to say no to your request or building a relationship through reciprocity, writes author and speaker Eric Barker. You must use these strategies ethically, Barker notes, which "doesn't mean you never try to change anyone's mind. It means you respect that they have one."

Put it into practice: The "because" principle for persuasion entails using a reason -- no matter how small -- for compliance with your request, Barker writes. "A reason is the courtesy of context. It's treating the other person like a thinking adult rather than a slot machine you keep pulling until a yes falls out."