Here are three keys to being more persuasive:
1.Make sure they know you respect their intelligence
2.Make sure they know you respect their character/intentions
3.Make sure they know that you're open to being wrong
These three things will instantly make you 1000x more persuasive with anybody.
*Edit: I realize in many cases you don't respect their intelligence or character, and you're 100% sure you're right, but that doesn't matter. If you want them to listen, you have to disarm their ego and you have to make them think you are open to being wrong. This accomplishes that. So bite the bullet and fake it. You won't be sorry.
“truth is vital to persuasion”
As in not being a disingenuously manipulative sycophant to get your foot in the door with an irrational person? You might be on to something there.
If the truth without false flattery doesn’t persuade him, he probably isn’t worth persuading. Is a delusional Dunning-Kruger going to become the next George Washington after your persuasion?
If it doesn't work, there's always data-mining, AI, a little internet stalking, and psychological manipulation like some ppl like to use, right?