Achievers

Australia Network’s Nexus program spends a day in the life of one of Geraldine Cox’s remarkable Sunrise graduates this week and it is an inspirational story.  Sopheak Louch came to the Sunrise orphanage when he was 11 years old, unable to read and write, having never attended school.  Now 19, he is studying in Australia at Adelaide’s prestigious Prince Alfred College and is aiming to attend university.

Sopheak is a young man who came to Australia to learn, but who has taught those around him so much. 

You can watch his story by going to Geraldine’s achievers page and selecting the Video story about Sopheak from the play list (it’s item 4).  A transcript of the story is also available on the Nexus website.

Sopheak is a genuine example of someone who is realising their potential … watch his story and tell us your reaction - we’d love to hear your comments.

Australia Network’s Nexus program is featuring a story on Geraldine Cox and some of the children from Sunrise’s Fine Arts School on this Friday’s program (November 30, 2007).  Geraldine and the children visited Australia earlier this year and performed traditional music and dance in some of the country’s best theatres. 

The idea for a Fine Arts School followed the trauma of a 1997 military coup - Geraldine sought advice from a pyschologist about how to ease the fears of the children who had witnessed their home and carers at Sunrise Orphanage face armed militia trying to reclaim what was once a military barracks.  "We had soldiers with machine guns and tanks and everything running around the land, trying to shoot us off the property," says Geraldine.

The advice was to get the children involved in music and dance and any kind of art form and the fine arts school has fostered a powerful means of both healing and cultural expression.

We’ve added this Nexus video story to Geraldine’s achievers page, and you can also find the full transcript and English learning component on our Nexus site.  To find out when to watch Nexus visit the Nexus home page and set your location.

Let us know what you think about the story and if you’ve experienced the healing power of art and music.

Powers of persuasion are invaluable assets for humanitarian Geraldine Cox. She thrives on making the impossible possible, and her success is partly due to her ability to influence key decision makers. Methods of persuasion include appeals to reason such as logical argument, rhetoric, scientific method and proof. Aids to successful persuasion include body language, communication skill and sales techniques.

Researcher Robert Cialdini describes the ‘Six Weapons of Influence,’ as he calls them, in his book, Influence, Science and Practice (Allyn & Cacon, 2000):

1. RECIPROCATION - "The Old Give and Take–and Take"
We are all taught to repay others for what they do for us. Building a sense of reciprocal giving can be a useful tool of persuasion.

2. COMMITMENT AND CONSISTENCY - "Hobgoblins of the Mind"
Once people have made a choice, they put themselves under pressure to behave consistently with that commitment. Getting people to commit to an action will increase the chances of them actually doing it.

3. SOCIAL PROOF - "Truths Are Us"
We decide what is correct by noticing what other people think is correct. If you want someone to do something for you, be sure to let them see that many other people are already doing it.

4. LIKING: "The Friendly Thief"
People love to say ‘yes’ to requests from people they know and like. Most people are also phenomenal suckers for flattery, even when they know it isn’t true.

5. AUTHORITY: "Directed Deference"
Most of us are raised with a respect for authority. You can put this general principle to use by citing authoritative sources to support your ideas. Be sure others know that your education and experience supports your ideas.

6. SCARCITY: "The Rule of the Few"
Opportunities seem more valuable when they are less available. The possibility of losing something is a more powerful motivator than of gaining something.

Robert Cialdini’s ‘Six weapon’s of influence’ have certainly got me thinking. I’m going to be referring back to this post before my next pay review!

How do you get people to say ‘yes’?