Every day, we encounter situations where people—customers, colleagues, or partners—try to influence us, convince us, or persuade us to (not) do something. Often, without realizing it, we become victims of manipulation. In many cases, manipulation may be unconscious on the part of others, which makes it even harder to defend against effectively.

What to Expect

• What manipulation is—and what it is not
• Key characteristics of manipulative communication and behavior
• The most common techniques of influence and tips for resisting them
• Who manipulates us—and whom do we manipulate more than we should?
• Assertive, passive, and aggressive communication styles
• The language of influence and manipulation
• Effective argumentation techniques
• Basic principles of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and how to apply them in daily communication
• Language and stylistic tools of persuasion
• When our behavior is conscious—and what happens unconsciously
• What to watch out for in communication

Manipulative Techniques

• Basic manipulative techniques—and why they are often hard to detect
• Role-playing (what role do we or others play, and what do we want from it?)
• How to defend against manipulation and set clear boundaries
• How to communicate more effectively, achieve your goals, and feel confident doing it