How to Coach Yourself and Others Beware of Manipulation | Page 269

By keeping pressuring you, subtly or not so subtly, manipulators may get you to succumb to what they want. Even if it was only to stop them from bugging you. Escape by: Don't give in, but when a manipulator's persistence starts to annoy you, tell them. Tell them to stop, to go away, and persist at that. If you succumb, you reward them for their persistence, which will make them do it again. All you have to do is keep repeating telling them to stop. Get angry if they don't. Hurrying To force you into a decision without thinking it through, manipulators may press you to hurry. They may put up some kind of deadline, put you into a hasty mood by way of music, or tell you that it's the last item in stock. This scares you, and because of that you'll feel like you'll have to do something. Escape by: Be prepared, so that you know what you want, and rushing you won't affect you. Avoid situations where you're made to hurry, or don't buy when you are in such a situation. You "should" buy from this person You may come to believe that you "should" buy from someone. However, if that person has been manipulating you into believing that, why would you? Why would you have any such obligation towards someone who treats you without respect? Hiding the manipulation In order for you not to be suspicious of being manipulated, manipulators use various techniques. They make sure they're likable, seem trustworthy and unthreatening. So, how do you notice you're being manipulated? Unfortunately, normally you don't. The first warning sign is that someone who might want something from you, is behaving in a likable, seemingly trustworthy and unthreatening way. The second warning sign would be that you feel yourself reacting with a feeling that is out of character when dealing with such a nice person. Feeling guilty, or feeling pushed to do something. If you notice that you're being guided towards a buying decision, you are being manipulated. Escape by: Not making the decision to buy just yet. Take a day or so to let the influence of the manipulator wear off, and then make an intuitive decision. 268