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https://admiredleadership.substack.com/p/persuasion-and-skin-in-the-game

Persuasion and Skin in the Game

"Advocates for just about anything are more convincing when they can prove they have “skin in the game.” And the skin that matters most is shared experience.

When someone lives within the same constraints, accepts the same tradeoffs, and faces the same risks, their message carries a different weight. It no longer feels self-interested. It feels tested.

The best advocates follow their own advice, use their own products and services, and operate under the same conditions as the people they want to persuade. They know words alone can inform, but shared experience convinces.

Take a hard look at what you, your team, or your organization sells, promotes, and advocates for. Does everyone in the organization eat their own cooking? If not, it’s time to fix that.

Taking your own advice and using your own services and products transforms claims into commitments.

When an advocate visibly practices what they preach, it lowers resistance and strengthens credibility. It says they stand behind their advocacy with their own choices and actions.

There is nothing more persuasive and convincing.

Ultimately, having skin in the game is about shared consequences, too. Whether through time, money, reputation, or shared experience, if things go poorly, the person advocating feels the pain as well.

Everyone knows that words are inexpensive and engagement is costly.

That’s why the best organizations in the world insist that every leader, team member, and advocate live by their own rules and swallow their own medicine.

Matching deeds to declarations lays the groundwork for persuasion. Without living the proof, advocacy is just another sales job.

AI quick snap shot

• Shared Experience: When advocates share in the same constraints and risks, their message carries more weight and credibility. This shared experience is crucial in building trust and credibility. 

   

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• Accountability: Having skin in the game means that advocates are personally responsible for the outcomes they advocate for. This accountability can lead to more genuine and persuasive advocacy. 

   

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• Practical Use: In various contexts, such as business, politics, and everyday choices, showing that you have skin in the game reflects genuine trust, alignment, and accountability. This principle can transform how people trust and align with you. 

   

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• Origins and Usage: The phrase has deep roots in finance and investments, where it signifies that you trust a venture more if the person advising it has their own money involved. It has also been adopted in pop culture and everyday language, emphasizing the importance of personal investment in decisions and outcomes. 

   

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  In summary, "skin in the game" is a timeless principle that can significantly enhance persuasion and trust in various contexts. It is a reminder that personal involvement and accountability are key to effective advocacy and leadership.

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