Ethical Persuasion

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Ethical Persuasion

Optimise your business communication to be more persuasive with Cialdini Institute insights

20/08/2026

3 Hours of Sharing Persuasion Insights!
Dwight Heck has a rare gift for comfortably persuading the guests on his show to reveal valuable insights that his audience can benefit from.

He doesn't believe in the short 20-30min episodes for 'Give a Heck', the show that enables people to live their lives on purpose. And it showed...

Sure... persuasion science is the most fascinating topic I know... but we went for 3 hours over 2 episodes, and I don't think we hit a dull moment.

Find 'Give A Heck' wherever you find your podcasts, and find my two episodes released on 11th August and 18th August.

10/08/2026

"I highly Recommend Him for Any Stage"
Coming from a Speaker Coach, that is high praise. 😊

The interview started off interestingly:
Marianne said that she gets an icky feeling when someone needs to put the word 'ethical' in front of 'persuasion'. In her experience, what they end up saying is not ethical at all.

I'm glad I was the first to not fit that experience, and so was Marianne.

I expanded on LIKING and the value of similarities... We found out that we both have our pilot's license, and as a result, the 'relationship' was cemented.

Marianne asked me something no one has ever asked, and we're going to do it:

𝗔𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

It will be a self-defence class the likes of which you've never experienced. It will feature after my initial interview, so follow 'The Marianne Hickman Show' now so you don't miss it!

06/08/2026

We need your opinion 😳 - Ethical Persuasion or Manipulation?

We won't cancel your subscription unless you do as we ask?
Is that what they are saying?

I'm big on ethics. We need to treat people right.

First of all, because it's the right thing to do, but secondly because ethical use of persuasion produces the best long-term results, and manipulation and unethical use of persuasion science is bound to be found out and can produce credibility craters.

I also know that we can be so much more persuasive if we just learn the science. If we don't know the science and use a few tactics that get compliance but in an unethical way... we run the risk of being found out, burning bridges and damaging our brand.

My experience with a website that matched potential podcast hosts to podcast shows was disappointing. That can happen. Not everything is right for us. So I decided not to let the auto-renewal take effect and cancelled my subscription ahead of time. No big deal.

What I did not appreciate was the repeated attempts to force me to fill out a survey under the threat of not processing my cancellation until I had done so.

There is no requirement for me to provide any further details about the poor experience I had.

❓ I'm curious about what you think of this attempt to try to get someone to do something.
❓ And do you agree that these practices should be called out?

Let's discuss in the comments.
In case you're curious which site I use and am happy with, you can find that link in the first comment.

30/07/2026

👍 Genuine, Ethical, and Effective 📈
"I recently attended Patrick van der Burght's Ethical Persuasion presentation, and it was one of the most valuable workshops I've been to in a long time.

Patrick has a great way of making complex ideas simple and practical. The session was engaging, easy to follow, and packed with tips that I can actually use in my business straight away.

What I liked most was that the focus wasn't on "selling" people. It was about communicating better, building trust, and helping people make informed decisions. The techniques felt genuine, ethical, and effective.

I walked away with a different perspective on presenting and influencing others, and I've already started putting some of the lessons into practice.

Thanks, Patrick, for a fantastic session. I'd highly recommend it to anyone wanting to become a more confident and persuasive communicator."

Jake Hamilton
Mortgage Broker in Australia for Key Change Finance

29/07/2026

Most people think of influence as an art form—a natural charisma you are either born with or you aren't. Or worse, they confuse it with high-pressure manipulation.

When I sat down with Amos Tunde on the DesignWave Podcast, we challenged that exact notion. Influence isn't guesswork, and it certainly isn't about manipulation. It is a proven, teachable science that works best long-term when used ethically.

During the episode, we unpacked how founders and leaders can use behavioural design and sales psychology to make their communication clearer, more effective, and incredibly ethical. When you stop relying on trial and error and start applying the universal laws of human psychology, you don't just win more business—you become a significantly more effective leader.

If you are ready to challenge the way you think about human decision-making, this conversation is exactly where you should start.

👇 Tune into the full episode here:
🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/designwave-podcast/id1856353909
🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆: https://open.spotify.com/show/69SDzfgLIvgDbzTO8fm3bf
🤝 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1764832445484605335ac8ba1

23/07/2026

Most young people spend years learning mathematics, science and history, yet very few are ever taught one of the skills that will influence almost every opportunity they encounter throughout life: how to persuade others ethically.

Before you've spoken a single word, people have already begun forming impressions about your competence, credibility and suitability. Those first impressions can influence whether you win the job, earn the promotion, attract opportunities or miss out entirely.

In this short preview from my latest episode of Ethical Persuasion Unlocked, I explain one simple, research-supported principle that can dramatically influence first impressions during job interviews and other important moments—while also explaining why persuasion must always be used honestly and ethically.

If you're a parent, teacher or mentor, please consider sharing this with a young adult. It could make a meaningful difference to the opportunities they create throughout their lives.

Find Episode 20 on the Ethical Persuasion Unlocked podcast in all the usual places.

22/07/2026

Top CEOs and Nobel Prize-winning scientists consistently call Dr Cialdini’s Influence the best business book of all time.

It is essential reading. But there is a massive trap that catches most professionals.

We read the book, we get excited by the concepts of behavioural design, and then... nothing changes. We go right back to our old habits.

Why? Because the accumulation of knowledge does not automatically turn into skill. You can read every manual ever written on how to fly a 747, but that doesn't give you the skill to land it in a storm.

This is the biggest flaw in modern sales training. Companies buy training hoping for a change in employee behaviour, but they just get a notebook full of theory. True application requires guided practice.

In my article (and Episode 3 of the podcast), I break down the crucial difference between knowing the science of influence and actually applying it ethically under pressure.

👇 Click the link in the comments to read the article, and let's bridge the gap between knowledge and skill.

22/07/2026

There is a lot of noise online right now about "closing techniques" and high-pressure sales strategies.

As the Cialdini Certified & Licensed Trainer for Australia, I can tell you definitively: pressure creates resistance. Science creates alignment.

Over the last two decades, I have taught the science of ethical persuasion to professionals in various industries in Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. The one universal truth?

When you use words and images that align with human decision-making triggers, you build stronger relationships and significantly reduce rejection or indecision.

Next Tuesday, July 28th, I am distilling this science into a free 60-minute live session: How to Hear NO Less Often.

We will look at specific case studies using the Principles of Persuasion that you can apply immediately to your own business.

👇 I am proud to be ranked 5th globally among Cialdini Certified Trainers, and I would love to share this methodology with you. Secure your access in the comments below.

21/07/2026

One of the most common communication mistakes occurs in the first minutes of a meeting: listing your own credentials.

The moment you sing your own praises, the audience's subconscious pushes back. You trigger immediate resistance and trade away your likability in a desperate bid for authority.

True expertise is far more potent when raised by someone else.

If you are leading a project or introducing a colleague to stakeholders, take the opportunity to bring their genuine credentials to the surface for them. A simple, honest introduction turns scepticism into respect before the meeting even begins.

During my recent appearance on the Education on Fire podcast with Mark Taylor, we discussed exactly how leaders and educators use this dynamic to build trust instantly.

🎧 Listen to the full strategy session on Apple Podcasts Link in the comment section.

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https://ethicalpersuasion.com.au/

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