Exposing the Tactics of the Manipulators in Game of Thrones
Exposing the Tactics of the Manipulators in Game of Thrones
The search for worthwhile leadership for my own edification resulted in finding “Charisma On Command” hosted by Charlie Houpert. Mr. Houpert utilizes one of our current cultural icons to explain the use of power and how to manipulate others. If you know these strategies you can guard against them, being familiar with them will allow you to discern when you are being played and respond appropriately. Please don’t use the techniques presented to become a bully.
Houpert examines three characters from the story Tyrion Lannister, Petyr Baelish and Tywin Lannister. Each character presents a different method of manipulation. The purpose of the manipulation is to control others. Tyrion uses “Slide over Manipulation;” Petyr Baelish “Littlefinger” uses “Bottom-up Manipulation,” and Tywn utilizes “Top Down Manipulation.” Again these presentations will help you identify when you are being played, but used benevolently may be an aid in helping you lead others.
Slide over Manipulation is a method for bending people to your will by appealing to what they want. You discover what people want by “Cold Reading.” By “Cold Reading” you use your eyes to gather information about an individual, and then use that information to discern what they want. You learn what people want by using your ears, “Listening” to what they say to discover what they want. Many times what a person wants is hidden in the words they say. In some cultures, it would be considered rude to actually ask for what you wanted. You must listen for the want within the words, you hear the heart. You may also learn what people want by asking them to tell you their story. Most everyone enjoys talking about themselves. From their storytelling one can discern desire and wants. Once you have a good idea as to what is wanted, then you offer a suggestion that strongly hints that they will get what they want, if they help you get what you want. This is much more subtle than quid pro quo but the idea is the same. Houpert’s video on Tyrion offers excellent examples of this method. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NQiHtbpa8s
Bottom Up Manipulation is the tactic Petyr Baelish “Littlefinger” utilizes to get people to do what he wants. You really need to be a liar and a backstabber to pull this off. Petyr never lets his end game to be known. He plays from the bottom, using humility to appeal to the ego’s of others, its as if he esteems others as his betters, he only wants to help them, because they are worthy of such help for they are great and he is not. He dolls out information in little tidbits often with the purpose of seemingly to align himself with the person he is speaking to in order to create a false comradery with the goal of putting people at odds with others while he moves out of the fray. He is not so bold as to tell people what they should or should do, but through suggestion and patience, he moves people like chess pieces. Forget any sense of morality, this method is a great example of how “the ends, justify the means.” Houpert’s featuring of “Littlefinger in this video gives you a view of this method in operation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHsSAz6nRrk
“Top Down Manipulation” is utilized by those who are already wielding considerable influence over others. Houpert exposes how Tywin uses his position of authority coupled with body language and vocal tone to manipulate. These tactics resembling bullying and rightly so, by sheer force of personality Tywin attempts to bend people to his will. Houpert has selected scenes from Game of Thrones that demonstrate how this method can force you into doing what you do not want to do.
Many thanks go to Charlie Houpert. Great work “ser.” You can subscribe to Houperts youtube channel “Charisma on Demand” check out his facebook posts http://facebook.com/charismaoncommand
As an added bonus check out “How Power Really Works.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NQiHtbpa8s
Comments
Post a Comment