Believe it or not, almost everyone manipulates each other. Whether consciously or unconsciously.. We did it when we were young and wanted a new toy, by begging our parents for it or playing them against each other. Or with our partners, when we wanted to achieve something. The most important thing is not to cross the line. Especially in a professional context in the role of a supervisor with personnel responsibility for teams.

When this happens in the family, that is one thing, but when it happens at work, it's a whole different story. At work, we receive a salary for a specific job, which is to be done with a certain quality in a certain time frame and within a specific contractual period. We are there to fulfill the company's goals. Any other services should be paid for separately or not performed because they are not part of the contract or job profile. At this point, one could draw a line, but in reality, every boss tries to get the maximum out of you. Whether you do additional tasks or not is your choice. It depends on your goals and plans. With this post, I want to make you more aware of recognizing more easily in which situations you are being manipulated and what techniques your boss or superior is using.

Manipulation Techniques

Manipulation can take different forms, and each of us has encountered it in some way. In this section, we will look at some common manipulation techniques used both in daily life and in the workplace. Understanding these techniques will help you better recognize manipulation and respond appropriately.

Guilt-tripping

Guilt-tripping involves evoking compassion in a person and getting them to fulfill a request or task. This technique is often used to get what one wants by playing on another person's emotions.

• Example with Children: A child might say: "Mom, I want this toy so much, please buy it for me, or I will be very sad."
• Example in the Workplace: A supervisor might say: "I know you are busy, but I really need your help with this project. I can't do it without you."
• How to politely decline: "I understand that this is important, but I already have my tasks. Let's discuss how we can distribute the work so that everything gets done."

Exploiting Guilt Feelings

Exploiting guilt feelings involves making a person feel guilty for not fulfilling a request or task. This technique is used to make a person act out of fear of feeling guilty.

• Example with Children: A child might say: "If you don't buy me this toy, I will think you don't love me."
• Example in the Workplace: A supervisor might say: "If you don't take on this project, I don't know how we will manage. You don't want the team to fail and the company to face serious issues, do you?"
• How to politely decline: "I understand the importance of this project, but I already have my tasks, so I can't take on the project in its entirety. Let's discuss how we can optimally coordinate the project in the team so that we make a good start."

Comparison

Comparison involves comparing a person to someone else to get them to fulfill a request or task. This technique is used to generate a sense of competition or inferiority in a person.

• Example with Children: A child might say: "Mom, all my friends have this toy. Why can't I have it?"
• Example in the Workplace: A supervisor might say: "Look at Ivan, he always takes on extra tasks. Why can't you do the same?"
• How to politely decline: "I appreciate your input, but everyone has their own tasks, deadlines, and capabilities. Let's discuss how we can best allocate tasks so that everyone is sustainably fully occupied."

You can't do it

This technique involves challenging a person to prove that they can complete the task. This technique is used to stimulate a person's desire to prove their competence.

• Example with children: A child could say: "You won't be able to build this sandcastle."
• Example in the workplace: A supervisor could say: "You won't be able to get this contract. It's too difficult for you. Or am I wrong?"
• How to politely decline: "I'm willing to try, but let's discuss what resources and support I need in order to best convince the customer."

Flattery

Flattery is about praising a person in order to persuade them to fulfill a request or task. This technique is used to evoke positive emotions and the desire to help in a person. The person also seeks to live up to the positive opinion and confirm it through their actions.

• Example with children: A child could say: "Mom, you are the best mom in the world. Please buy me this toy."
• Example in the workplace: A supervisor could say: "You are the most disciplined and hardest working team member in our team. I know that only you can handle this project."
• How to politely decline: "Thank you for your trust, but let's discuss how we can distribute the tasks so that everything gets done, as I also have my goals in my tasks that I don't want to neglect. "

Communicative Manipulation Techniques

There are clearly simple manipulation methods that have been described above. These methods are often used in daily life and can be easily recognized. However, there are also more complex techniques that are harder to identify and are often used in professional environments, marketing, and advertising.

Unlike direct and obvious methods such as exploiting sympathy or guilt, communicative manipulation techniques employ more sophisticated strategies. They aim to evoke positive emotions in a person, create a sense of mutual obligation, or motivate them to accomplish a task. These techniques are commonly used in professional environments to motivate employees, as well as in marketing and advertising to attract customers.

In this section, we will look at some of these communicative techniques that will help you better understand how and why they work. Understanding these techniques will not only help you recognize manipulation, but also effectively use it in your professional activities.

Praise

Praise involves praising a person for their achievements or qualities in order to persuade them to fulfill a request or task. This technique is used to evoke positive emotions in a person and the desire to help.

Example in the workplace: A supervisor could say: "You handled the last project excellently. I know that only you can handle this new project."

Example in advertising: "You deserve the best! Try our new product and feel the difference."

Offers

Offers involve offering something useful to a person in order to persuade them to fulfill a request or task. This technique is used to evoke the desire in a person to receive what is offered.

Example in the workplace: A supervisor could say: "If you take on this project, it's a great opportunity for your professional growth."

Example in advertising: "If you brush your teeth daily with our toothpaste, you won't get cavities."

Benjamin Franklin Effect

The Benjamin Franklin Effect involves asking a person for a favor, which will make them find you more likable. This technique is used to create a sense of mutual obligation.

Example in the workplace: A supervisor could say: "Can you help me with this report? I know it's not your job, but you know it better than I do and I value your advice on it."

Example in marketing: "Help us improve our product by giving a review. Your opinion is very important to us."

Motivation

Motivation involves inspiring a person to accomplish a task by showing them how beneficial it will be for them. This technique is used to evoke the desire in a person to achieve a goal.

Example in the workplace: A superior could say, "If you take on this project, it opens up new opportunities for you and helps you advance on the career ladder."

Example in advertising: "Become the best version of yourself with our new product!"

Agree and redirect

The principle is to join a person's opinion or feelings and then steer them in the desired direction. This technique is used to avoid conflicts and achieve unity. The most important thing about this principle is to convince the person that you share a common opinion, and then gently steer them towards an additional task.

Example in the workplace: A superior could say, "I understand that you have a lot to do and want to do everything with quality. Let's think about how we can divide the tasks, so that everything gets done. By the way, there is another important project that requires your attention. I think you will handle it just as well as the others."

Example in marketing: "We understand that you want the best for yourself. Try our new product and feel the difference. By the way, we have another novelty that complements your choice perfectly."

Conclusions on manipulation

One should not be surprised or offended when people manipulate. My son, my wife, and my mother try to manipulate me. A more subtle form of manipulation, like "Motivation," I sometimes feel at work, although I don't mind it because I know it drives me further to achieve the company's goals more effectively. There is nothing special about manipulations. But if your friends or loved ones do this clumsily, teach them to do it subtly.

Postscript

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope it was interesting and useful for you. In life, there are many difficulties for each of us, and sometimes it is important to simply uplift yourself and your loved ones. I suggest reading our entertaining articles with jokes about black humor or finding ready-made phrases with a good morning to send to your friends or loved ones. May your day be full of positivity and good vibes!