How to Take Over The Leadership Position (unethical)
- An Anti-Manipulation Thread
- An Anti-Manipulation Thread
This is a common (but fairly risky) tactic to win over the leadership of a group in making certain decisions.
This may seem like a how-to, but that is not my intention. I only aim to let you know har far people could go to get what they want.
This may seem like a how-to, but that is not my intention. I only aim to let you know har far people could go to get what they want.
Before diving straight into it, I have to first preface that this only works in a specific (albeit common) scenario.
The main conditions are:
The main conditions are:
1. The workplace functions in democratic leadership
2. There’s a decision to be made but the group is leaning toward the direction that your superior raised rather than the one you’d like to go
3. You have power over the people who are in charge of carrying out the decision
2. There’s a decision to be made but the group is leaning toward the direction that your superior raised rather than the one you’d like to go
3. You have power over the people who are in charge of carrying out the decision
1. Feign agreement
Do not let anyone else in the group know that you strongly dislike or disagree with the course of action proposed. Instead, pretend that you agree with it.
Talk about all the reasons why it’s good and ‘sell’ the decision to the rest of the group.
Do not let anyone else in the group know that you strongly dislike or disagree with the course of action proposed. Instead, pretend that you agree with it.
Talk about all the reasons why it’s good and ‘sell’ the decision to the rest of the group.
If you want to seem more trustworthy, you could point out a small flaw and immediately rectify it in a manner in which your superior would agree.
Or, if you’re smart, allow your superior to solve the flaw themselves after raising the flaw.
Or, if you’re smart, allow your superior to solve the flaw themselves after raising the flaw.
You could also guide them to the solution with questions.
This would work even better if you have a reputation within the group to be the guy who likes to challenge your victim’s decision-making.
This would work even better if you have a reputation within the group to be the guy who likes to challenge your victim’s decision-making.
Your agreement will make the decision your victim proposed seem like it’s a very good one - so good that even the biggest critic would have to agree with it.
If there’s another person criticizing the plan, let your victim talk or defend the plan yourself.
If there’s another person criticizing the plan, let your victim talk or defend the plan yourself.
It is crucial to set the precedent that you agree with the decision that would be made.
This step might seem really counterintuitive, but this is what allows for the rest of the tactic to work.
2. Take a step further
This step might seem really counterintuitive, but this is what allows for the rest of the tactic to work.
2. Take a step further
After the entire group agrees with the first motion, you then have to propose other more extreme solutions of the same nature immediately.
It's important, though, that you tie your proposal back to the values and beliefs of your victim (or their original rationale).
It's important, though, that you tie your proposal back to the values and beliefs of your victim (or their original rationale).
The measures your proposed should go beyond the original idea in order to sabotage it.
However, you should frame them as an improvement/ extension on the original idea your victim made.
However, you should frame them as an improvement/ extension on the original idea your victim made.
Because of cognitive dissonance, most of the group would likely agree to this addition and find it swell.
Remember to attribute the rationale back to your victim, and ask them for a definite agreement with your proposals.
Remember to attribute the rationale back to your victim, and ask them for a definite agreement with your proposals.
Then, it is time for implementation.
During implementation, it is crucial to fake support for the leader and tell your subordinates to carry the plan so extreme that it seemed stupid.
You could even get people outside of the group to condemn the plan.
During implementation, it is crucial to fake support for the leader and tell your subordinates to carry the plan so extreme that it seemed stupid.
You could even get people outside of the group to condemn the plan.
If the leader is authoritarian and subordinates are used to following orders, they won't question the plan.
But if they do, this is an opportunity to lift yourself up while pushing the leader down, by saying something like:
But if they do, this is an opportunity to lift yourself up while pushing the leader down, by saying something like:
"That's what the boss wants us to do and I guess it can work."
This shows loyalty and belief in the cause, while "I guess" and "can" subtly doubts its effectiveness.
This shows loyalty and belief in the cause, while "I guess" and "can" subtly doubts its effectiveness.
In politics, for example, the manipulator might spread intel to the press and intellectuals, which would then be spread to the wider public.
The key thing here is to spread gossip and exaggerate the orders that your victim had given, and the failures it's accruing.
The key thing here is to spread gossip and exaggerate the orders that your victim had given, and the failures it's accruing.
When questioned about the failures, you could then deflect to your victim and frame yourself as simply a blind follower attending to orders.
3. Propose an alternative
It’s as simple as that. Propose your alternative.
3. Propose an alternative
It’s as simple as that. Propose your alternative.
When a plan goes to shit, it’s your opportunity to propose what you’ve been thinking all along.
People would try anything as long as it’s not the current solution to stop the bleeding.
People would try anything as long as it’s not the current solution to stop the bleeding.
If your plan is logically sound and in a different direction, then the group would likely accept it.
And if it is effective and works, you establish a great contrast, and make it seem like your superior is completely inept.
And if it is effective and works, you establish a great contrast, and make it seem like your superior is completely inept.
Your superior will begin to resent you for it, and complaints might be framed as jealousy and envy.
Something I failed to mention earlier, the first two steps of this could be done by a trusted person instead of yourself.
Something I failed to mention earlier, the first two steps of this could be done by a trusted person instead of yourself.
It would even make step 3 even more convincing as you’re not seen as one of the persons in the wrong.
But of course, to make this work, you have to be the guy who comes in and saves the day.
But of course, to make this work, you have to be the guy who comes in and saves the day.
If you’re interested in learning more manipulation techniques (+ how to deal with them), social skills, persuasion, productivity, life...
SSU has everything you need.
Join 450+ members here dirt cheap: gumroad.com
SSU has everything you need.
Join 450+ members here dirt cheap: gumroad.com
That's it for me.
If you enjoyed it:
1. Comment any questions you have about persuasion, manipulation or social skills
2. Follow me @soullesshank for threads at least every other day.
3. A RT is also much appreciate
If you enjoyed it:
1. Comment any questions you have about persuasion, manipulation or social skills
2. Follow me @soullesshank for threads at least every other day.
3. A RT is also much appreciate
Loading suggestions...