The art and science of persuasion have been exploited for profit and personal gain by advertisers, politicians, scammers, and the like for a long time. Social psychologists have studied persuasion for decades and their research identifies certain techniques that have tremendous power to manipulate us into buying or behaving in certain ways. Yet there are times in life when we really do need to be persuasive, without the intent of being manipulative or unscrupulous. From job interviewing to dating, and teaching to selling, plenty of circumstances involve having to convince someone that we have something valuable to offer. So here’s how you can harness the persuasive power of these common psychological techniques, without sacrificing your soul or integrity.

Receiving criticism isn’t exactly a fun experience. Whether it’s from mentors or peers, teachers, colleagues, or friends and family, being told that what we’re putting out there is less than perfect (or even good) can really sting. But getting feedback from others is how we learn and grow. Constructive criticism can help us see things in a new perspective and think outside the box. It can spark creativity, encourage critical thinking, and drive us to push further than we might have gone without it. Being comfortable taking criticism is important for artists and creatives, entrepreneurs, students, and in many other professional spheres. So how do we make it less scary and stressful?