EP191: Saying 'No' to Manipulators

Take control of manipulators.

What can we do when an individual hoards conversation time, constantly interrupts, provides unsolicited advice and puts others down? These behaviors can be interpreted as manipulative and can damage individuals on our teams and organizations. To maintain working relationships, and be authentic to ourselves and those we lead, we have to firmly and diplomatically say no to manipulators. Today Janet shares examples of how to take control when working with a manipulator.

This episode answers questions such as:

How can we deal with manipulators in the workplace?
What “I” and “it” statements can help stop manipulators?
How do we firmly say ‘no’ to manipulators?

Featured Episode Resources

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY | HOW TO SPOT AND STOP MANIPULATORS

It is important to distinguish healthy social influence from psychological manipulation. Healthy social influence occurs between most people, and is part of the give and take of constructive relationships. In psychological manipulation, one person is used for the benefit of another.

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9P | DEAL WITH PROBLEMS

Have you identified the problem people in your organization? Are there individuals who are low performing and reinforce silos infecting your departments? In this video, Dr. Natalie Harder reveals the hard truth around why leaders avoid dealing with low performers and the consequences of tolerating their behavior.

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SE | ELIMINATE WE/THEY

As a leader, how you communicate matters. When you model positive communication, you not only set an example, but you also set an expectation for how to interact within your organization. What you permit, you promote. It’s vital to take necessary steps to avoid “We/They” behavior and communication.

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9P | TIPS FOR DOCUMENTING POOR PERFORMANCE AND NON-COMPLIANCE

To show we have taken all the right steps to support an employee’s success, it’s necessary to document performance problems and conversations. This documentation may not only protect the organization in the case of a lawsuit, it ensures all employees are treated fairly and consistently.

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Connect with Coaches and Guests

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