How to Manipulate People

In Webster's New World Dictionary, the first definition for manipulation is "managing or controlling by shrewd use of influence, often in an unfair or fraudulent way." For a moment, let's forget about unfair and fraudulent, and focus on changing your relationships in a positive way. Follow these steps to positively "manipulate" the people in your life--for their own good, of course.

Instructions

1. Stop gossiping and criticizing other people. This can be hard to do, especially if you have a group of friends or coworkers who like to complain. But if you stop the negative chatter, eventually they will too.

2. Compliment people when you can. Everyone wants to feel important, so if you can give people specific and honest compliments, you'll have them eating out of your hand. The key here is "honest"--most people know what they do well, and they will spot insincerity and your attempt to manipulate them in a minute.

3. Inspire people. You can't force people to do what you want them to do by threatening them, but you can inspire them and make your dreams and goals theirs as well. That's what good leaders do.

4. Take an interest in other people. If you want people to be interested in helping you, take a real interest in them. This alone will make you irresistible.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a Dale Carnegie course or purchase his book entitled "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Although it was first written in 1936, the steps Carnegie describes for positively "manipulating" people still work today.

Resources

• Learn More About the Carnegie Principles
• Mary Treffert Writes About Codependency and Recovery
• Live Real Describes the Science Behind Psychological Warfare