5 Differences between Persuasion and Manipulation of People

We encounter countless situations every day in sales, investments, business, public relations, and even life itself where we need to use communication to draw in or persuade others to take a decision that could be crucial to the success of our project.

Searching for sales' books and courses on the Internet shows almost 250 million results. Eventually, every business must sell, and all employers are, at their core, salespeople. They are creative, diligent, team builders, and natural marketers.

However, beware. Many courses, books, and the so-called sales and persuasion experts offer techniques and systems consisting of various forms of manipulation or deception to “trap” clients, partners, or teams, and get them to do what you want, regardless of whether they want or need it, instead of pushing you to actually communicate with them.

Is there a difference between persuasion and manipulation? Isn't marketing itself a kind of deception? The answer is 'no'.

5 Differences Between Persuasion and Manipulation

Here are 5 differences between persuasion and manipulation.

1. Persuasion takes into account the other party, while manipulation exploits them

Communication requires human connection between people and is based on ethics; that is, on the authority and trust that exists between two people. As a result, it allows information to flow between them, which naturally means that there are at least two people in the communication process.

These two people deserve equality. They enjoy the same level of dignity and the same rights, regardless of their position. There is no way to change this fact. Lying and stealing are bad things, and cheating cannot be acceptable at work.

Although there will always be those who profit from cheating, we are all dreamers and perfectionists. Therefore, we will clarify for you in the lines that follow why it is beneficial to have morals at work in addition to being good in general.

2. Persuasion builds relationships, while manipulation destroys them

Lasting businesses are built on long-term relationships with clients. A client who trusts you will always return to your company and will bring more business through recommendations to their friends and family.

It is possible to manipulate someone for a while, but it does not last forever. Trust is certainly gained slowly and lost quickly. We go to the same insurance broker and mechanic for decades, not because they are the greatest in the world, but because we trust them and they have helped us to feel more confident in them each time we use their services.

Commercial professions and companies themselves are based on human relationships. So, do not destroy your relationships in pursuit of easy profit.

3. Persuasion builds teams, while manipulation causes problems among their members

Manipulative people believe that they are always on top and that they have discovered the “secret” or “system” that allows them to get away with it every time. However, this secret is simple; it is simply called betrayal.

This is the truth; it is actually called betrayal. It entails being trusted and then betraying the same person who trusted you. This is manipulation, not skill, intelligence, nor negotiation. A manipulative individual is toxic and ruins teams, businesses, and organizations.

Manipulators switch between jobs, seemingly achieving quick results. They develop their agenda with the reliable capital they possess. However, soon their presence makes things intolerable as people stop communicating and businesses fail. They constantly employ deceit and lament over being taken advantage of. They end up alone, digging their miserable fate.

4. Persuasion enhances reputation, while manipulation destroys it

Robert Cialdini is the author of the best-selling book Pre-Suasión, which is devoted to helping people and businesses create persuasive communication systems. He constantly advised his clients to employ strategies that are governed by the highest ethical standards. "Companies that lie quickly lose clients and investors," he said. Moreover, it fosters a culture of lying among employees.

When entrepreneurs and formal leadership of a company act in an exploitative manner, they quickly discover that management and the entire workforce do the same. This is what happened at the notorious ENRON Corporation. Every level of accounting, sales, production, and management discovered that it was easier to falsify their results in order to get rewards than to face the immediate consequences. These consequences eventually became much more dangerous.

5. Persuasion creates wealth, while manipulation creates fake wealth (i.e. corruption)

No business grows overnight or easily. Prisons and streets are full of people who have decided to take the easy path, which is the path of lying, betrayal, or fraud.

They always start with something small that doesn't sound like a lie, such as saying, "The check is already ready; I'm sure you'll get it tomorrow," or "Your car needs a new engine." This insignificant thing quickly turns into a habit that determines their fates.

Manipulative people who create manipulative companies repeat phrases like, “Everyone does it,” “It's normal,” or “It's too much,” which in turn builds manipulative societies that elect manipulative governments. Before we realize it, we find ourselves immersed in a culture where people lie, mistreat others, and have fun while doing it.

If you think that telling the truth is hard, think about what lying costs us. Institutional corruption in companies and governments costs 10% of the gross domestic product. The costs associated with people, society, and culture are incalculable, and this is just the economic cost. It all starts with a phrase that manipulators often say, "Who will notice?"

If you use communication effectively and arm yourself with truth and dignity, it can be your greatest ally in business and in your professional life. Your sales and reputation could reach international heights as a result. So, learn how to sell and persuade by considering all perspectives. Leave manipulation to the losers. You are not one of them, and you do not want to be.