I'll be the first to admit that I think persuasion gets a bad rep. When I hear "persuasion" I think of vicious debates, manipulative smear campaigns, and cruel rhetoric. Persuasion is seen as a weapon for conflict and combat.
But that's only one dimension of it. I know that if I ever engage in an interaction where it seems like every exchange is an argument, I'm walking away. I don't respond to being "talked at". I respond to consideration and understanding, which can only happen when we listen to each other.
In my narrative strategy work, I use persuasion as a method for problem solving, but only if it makes sense in that context. If there's room for all involved to find a solution, it's not going to happen during squawking arguments. It's going to happen when we listen for opportunities to work together.
What would happen if we started treating persuasion as a bridge to harmony rather than a coercive force?