Aggressive agreement!

Conversational power tactic #2

The “aggressive agree-ers” seem to be on your side. After all, they agree with you! But they do it a bit too enthusiastically; so much so that you quickly lose your train of thought.

How do they do it?

As you are speaking, they maintain a steady flow of “yes, yes, yes,” or “Umm, umm, umm” – often accompanied by vigorous nodding of the head or even leaning towards you.

They do this to the point where it distracts your train of thought – and then they’re in!

Distracted, you pause to gather your thoughts again – and they jump in with their views and their own topic of conversation.

They’ve hijacked the conversation direction.