The 2-Word Trick That Makes You Instantly More Persuasive

⏳ Read Time: Less than 4 min.

Welcome back to The Winning Edge —your weekly dose of performance psychology, persuasive communication, and leadership strategy.

I’m super excited about this week’s edition, because communication isn’t just a skill—it’s your daily superpower.

Whether you're pitching an idea, leading a team, or navigating conflict, how you say something often matters more than  what  you say.

This week, we’re exploring a simple but surprisingly powerful phrase that instantly upgrades how people perceive your message.
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This Week’s Insights

✅ The “Because Effect” – A 2-word persuasion technique backed by psychology
✅ Communication Reframe – How to get people to open up instead of shut down
✅ AI Tool of the Week – Get smarter replies with an AI email sidekick
✅ Quick Hitters – Subtle shifts that make your words land stronger
✅ Winning Communication – When tone is the message

THE MAIN EVENT
🎤  The 2-Word Trick That Makes You Instantly More Persuasive

It’s called the “ Because Effect.” And it’s as simple as it sounds.

People are dramatically more likely to agree with you when you give them a reason—even if that reason isn’t earth-shattering.

🧪 Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer ran an experiment asking people to cut in line at a copy machine. Here’s what happened:

• “Can I use the copier?” – 60% said yes.

• “Can I use the copier because I’m in a rush ?” – 94% said yes.

• “Can I use the copier because I need to make copies ?” – 93% still said yes.

➡️ The magic was in the word “because.” It created a sense of logic and legitimacy—even when the reason was obvious.

How to use it today:  
Swap “We should do this” with:
✔️ “We should do this because it saves us time down the line. ”
✔️ “Let’s go with option B because it gives us more flexibility .”

It’s not manipulation—it’s communication with context. And context builds trust.

QUICK HITTERS: Fast Wins for the Week

💡 Tip of the Week: Want to sound more confident? Drop the “just.” ➡️ Say “I’m following up…” instead of “Just checking in…”

📊  Stat of the Week: Adding the word “because” to a request increases compliance by up to 34%. (Harvard Study, 1978)

🎭 Power Move: Pause for 1–2 seconds after asking a question. It gives your words weight and invites deeper responses.

📖  Recommended Read: “Exactly What to Say” by Phil M. Jones – A quick, tactical guide to high-impact phrases that shift conversations.

WEEKLY DEEP DIVE
Tone Over Text – Why How You Say It Beats What You Say

Ever sent a message with good intentions, only to have it land flat—or worse, cause confusion?

That’s because tone is the emotional carrier of your message . And in high-stakes moments, tone is often the message .

✅  Same words, different tone:

• “We need to talk.”

• “Hey—can we talk for a sec? I’ve got an idea I think you’ll like.”

One opens a conversation. The other triggers anxiety.

Here’s how to master tone in your communication:

1️⃣ In Person or Virtual: Match your energy to your message. If it’s good news, smile when you speak. It comes through—even on Zoom.

2️⃣ In Writing: Use punctuation, line breaks, and structure to soften or strengthen your tone.

• “Can we chat tomorrow?” feels lighter than “We need to talk.”

• Use formatting (like bold or bullets) to bring clarity without sounding aggressive.

3️⃣ I n Tense Situations: Lead with empathy.
✔️ “I know this isn’t easy, but…”
✔️ “Here’s how I’m thinking about it—let me know what I’m missing.”

Tone creates psychological safety. And safety opens the door to influence.

AI TIP OF THE WEEK

📌  Tool: HyperWrite – Your AI Sidekick for Smarter Communication

What it does:
✅ Writes and rewrites emails, messages, and responses in your voice
✅ Suggests more persuasive or professional phrasing
✅ Works right inside Gmail, LinkedIn, and Chrome

🔗 Try it at hyperwriteai.com

🧠 Why it matters: Great communication isn’t just about speed—it’s about clarity and tone. HyperWrite helps you hit both, effortlessly.

WINNING WITH AI: The Future of Sales Proposals and Presentations

AI isn’t just for tech geeks or big corporations—it’s transforming how we sell, present, and communicate. The best sales teams are already using AI to:
✅  Generate compelling, tailored proposals in minutes (not hours).
✅  Turn data into engaging, visual stories that capture attention.
✅  Automate tedious tasks so they can focus on closing deals instead.

This isn’t the future—it’s happening right now .

Get your copy of my ebook here!

ACTION STEPS & COMMUNITY QUESTION

Try using the “Because Effect” in your next email or request this week—and pay attention to how people respond. Did it shift the outcome?

💬 Also: What’s one phrase or communication habit that’s helped you become more effective? Hit reply and share—I might feature your tip in a future edition!

P.S.
Next week’s edition is all about  Leadership & Influence —you’ll learn a counterintuitive tactic great leaders use to make people  lean in  and follow their lead.

Keep building your edge—one conversation at a time.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

If you have more feedback or just want to get in touch, respond to this email, and we’ll get back to you!

Thanks for reading!

Until next week!

Mary Beth