Have you ever noticed that some people seem to read the minds of others? They easily get their way without making direct demands.
Their requests sound like friendly advice, and others' decisions seem independent.
All this is not magic, but knowledge of simple psychological mechanisms that work even when you are not aware of it.
Imagine you want a colleague to take on a difficult project.
Instead of asking for it directly, you can casually mention how similar tasks helped someone else get a promotion.
The “social proof” effect will work: people tend to repeat the actions of those who have achieved success.
Another technique is the "door in the forehead". First ask for something big and most likely you will get a refusal.
Then immediately voice a real, more modest request.
The contrast will work: against the background of the first refusal, the second task will seem insignificant, and the person will agree in order to reduce the feeling of guilt.
It is important to remember: manipulation is not always evil.
They can be a tool of soft influence that helps avoid conflicts and find compromises.
For example, instead of giving orders, use questions like, “Do you think we should try this?” This will make the person feel part of the process and more likely to support the idea.
But there is a line here - if your actions cause harm or the deception is obvious, it is no longer management, but exploitation.
Author: Igor Zur