Both you and Tired&Retired have both made interesting comments in this thread regarding the use of speech and stuff to hypnotize, or lead, or perhaps mind-control groups of individuals.
I have recently been involved in a group situation where an organization has been dealing with the behavior and mis-behavior of several individuals who have, in essence created a mini-cult within the organization, to its detriment.
As a result, I find myself trying to even understand all of this stuff. As a club officer, I’m told I’m a terrible leader. Where is one supposed to learn leadership? (The military didn’t want me). I’m obviously a terrible sociopath, not nearly manipulative enough.
I’m beginning to think that the way the world really must work is like some kind of pyramid of sociopathy where the more skilled and effective sociopaths rise to the top, while the gullible and deluded labor away at the bottom.
Perhaps I’m just cynical.
The reason I’m posting this to you two is that I feel like you’ve posted two sides of a very similar coin. Knowledge is power, and I’m feeling a little short of it. Where can I go to learn more about these things you speak of? Books? Websites???
I’m tired of feeling like my life and the lives of my friends (and countrymen) are subject to the wiles of these deceivers. I want to be able to arm myself and others to be able to recognize, resist and fight back against those who manipulate them to gain their own advantages.
Sometimes, it just feel so hopeless.
Any thoughts/comments?
Just start with “How to win Friends and Influence People”.
The rest of this stuff is classroom and pretty in depth.
You have to want to be effective and that requires deep thought, careful consideration and strict but tightly grouped thoughts.
Who are the stakeholders and decision makers? This gets more complicated as you consider the effect of each clique on other cliques for decisions or change. The Johari Concept is useful tool here but, requires really hard work to understand and use constructively.
What is their current state or condition? What are their points of pain(what needs improvement, what is the current state/condition impairing and what are the consequences if no forward momentum is achieved)
Where do they need to go? What direction?
How will the recognize it? How can they measure it? What should be the meaningful outcome?
How do they acquire it? Whst is that path line or arc of achivement?
When is the date or dates of accomplishment
Blah, blah, blah
As you can see it gets very complicated but, that is a bit of my approach in organizations and in the current organization that I am scheduled to take over leadership for, in 2016.
I’ll have my goals outlined by June 1st and begin the orocess of influencing those who and want to help achieve the objectives I’ll be setting for my term.
BTW, you expressed a bit of victim mentality in your post.
Doesn’t mean anything negative but, no one like to be taken advantage of.
Set some well thought and clear boundaries that no one should ever think of crossing and then when tbey approach, you can let them know in whatever way is best for you “Don’t!”.
Whatever you do, say it in under 8 words. I didn’t make the rules and the engagement should end in under 7 seconds.
Good book is “The Magic of Thinking Big” Dr. David Schwartz.
Read it when I was 15 at the local library.
I took copius notes and followed it exactly.
Probably why I have more confidence than I deserve.
That and my Parents always instilled in me leadership qualities (handy when you live with 5 sibling competitors for 18 years).
And one of God’s best messsges ever:
Seek and ye shall find
Ask and it shall be given
Knock and the door shall be opened
Prayer in all endevours is the most powerful tool you can employ.
I won’t do anything important without thoughtful consideration and exacting prayer.