AS the Republicans gear up for the first primary 2024 primary presidential debate, I can't help but recall how Carly Fiorina, the former head of Hewlett-Packard and presidential aspirant during the 2015 Republican debate, shone as the more articulate and convincing than the rest of the presidential hopefuls, even hammering survey front-runner Donald Trump. She was well-prepared in her arguments, even using graphic examples to prove her point. She displayed and practiced what is needed to effectively persuade and convince her audience.

Even mere mortals like us engage in a daily bout of convincing and persuading other people to our viewpoint, may it be at work or personal life. People who are able to effectively persuade others follow a simple framework which I call CRA (Credibility-Relationship-Attractiveness).