How would you like a quick and easy Persuasion Technique to get just about anyone to feel they "owe" you? Imagine what a persuasion technique this would mean for a sales call, a sales letter (yes you can do in it writing too), a negotiation, business discussions, or a situation where you are trying to get someone to do something.

There is a simple way you can create this sense of obligation in someone. You do it by using the principle of reciprocity. That is, when you give something to someone, that person will almost always feel obligated to give you something back. The sense of reciprocity is so strong that in research studies where one person treated people nicely and the other person treated the same people poorly but gave them something (lets say offered them a soda), these people were more likely to do something for the person who treated them poorly. Reciprocity is one of the most powerful persuasion techniques that you can employ.

Now if you are familiar with reciprocity don't stop reading yet, because I have a little different twist on this whole concept to share with you in few moments.

It's very likely that when you think of reciprocity, you think of giving someone a "thing" ... it could be a gift, food, something to drink, or some other physical object. The problem with this is that in business situations current ethics guidelines may prohibit gifts (this is certainly the case in government contracts). In personal and business situations, giving a physical object creates a sense of obligation to provide something in return which can at times be awkward. Have you ever gotten a present from someone at Christmas, but didn't have anything to give in return. Next thing you know you