Summarize this article in one sentence.
Whoever you're engaged in discussion with, getting your point across will involve different tactics and techniques, depending on the situation. Evaluate who your audience is and what their expectations of you are before deciding what tactic will work the best. If you're trying to prove a point to an authority figure, like a parent, your boss, or some other figure who has power over you, you'll want to be sure to highlight how your point will make the situation better for everyone. How will the family, company, or group benefit from your proposed point? If you're trying to prove a point to a child or a subordinate employee, it's important to explain the details and reasoning of your point without being condescending. Even if you're "teaching a lesson," don't talk down to the other person and your point will get across much better. No "because I said so" reasons. If you're trying to prove a point to a partner, spouse, or even a very close friend, someone on equal footing, it's important to maintain an even keel and speak clearly. Don't mince words. If you're talking to someone who knows you intimately, avoid the more public rhetoric you might use to talk to your boss. It's important to focus your points on solving a problem, not "winning an argument." If your goal is to get a point across, make sure that it's something that needs to be heard for the benefit of the person hearing it, or the benefit of the group, not just because you want to make it. It's a lot easier to make points that are necessary and productive. Your point should help the other person, not bring them down. To figure out whether or not your points are productive points, imagine that someone else were going to give you the same piece of feedback or advice, or bring up the same idea. How would it feel? Would it give you something concrete to do or change? It would be one thing for a boss to say, "Our overhead's too high, so you're all going to have your hours cut. Sorry." Point made, but unproductive. Instead, try out something like this: "We're really struggling with overhead costs. To be able to keep you all on board and working as a team doing the great work you do, we're going to need to cut some of your hours slightly." The most important part of getting a point across is in figuring out what exactly your point is and why it's a valid point to bring up. Provable points are points that have good reasoning behind them. Even if it's an unpleasant truth, something the listener may not want to hear, you can be sure that it's a truth that needs to be heard. Obviously it's important for your child to work hard in school. But why? It's easier to get your child to study harder if it's focused on how your child will be happier with better grades and enjoy school better, as opposed to "because I say so" or "because your friend Jimmy studies hard." Tell the truth, as straight and as simple as possible. Tell your child that studying is an important part of growing up and learning to take care of yourself. You won't always be there to help them, and it's important for kids to learn as much as they can to grow up right. If you want a rock-solid point, anticipate all the possible holes in your argument and your point that the other person might make. Before you make your point, beat the other person to the punch by bringing up their rebuttal and debunking it before they get the chance. If you tell your child to study harder to grow up into a well-rounded adult, you might be likely to hear, "But I don't want to be a well-rounded adult, I want to play video games." It's understandable that lots of parents resort to the "because I said so" at this point, but use it as a teaching opportunity. State the anticipated argument out loud: "I know right now you just want to play video games all day. I did too when I was 7. But that'll change as you get older, and you'll need more skills."
Evaluate the situation. Make your points productive. Come up with some valid reasoning. Anticipate counter-arguments.