How Calling for Open-Mindedness Locks in Instant Agreement

You’re in the coffee lounge, the aroma of fresh roast swirling around as your teammate scrolls through emails. You clear your throat, recall your note—“How open-minded are you about…?”—and you continue, “...trying a different project tracker this month?”

Their pen hovers mid-air, they lean back, then forward again. A slight smile flickers. By giving them a label of open-mindedness, you’ve tapped into a core identity choice: nobody wants to think of themselves as closed off. You sense the shift when they ask, “What’s different about it?”

It feels almost game-like. You explain the benefits, they nod, and you feel the walls drop. I might be wrong, but it’s as if you just handed them the freedom to agree, wrapped in a compliment. That tiny boost of autonomy flips the script from “Do I have to?” to “I want to.”

This strategy works because it leverages self-perception bias: we align with how we see ourselves. Everyone wants to be open to growth. By invoking that trait, you transform resistance into curiosity and agreement.

Next time you need support, write your key phrase on a card and decide on the change you want. Pair them into a natural question and practice it in a casual setting. Notice how labeling someone as open-minded invites them to prove that identity by saying yes. Tweak the wording if needed, then use it in your next formal proposal. Observe how often doors begin to open.