Duplicity in Influence is a Bad Strategy

By Christina Harbridge

Click Bait Cartoon via cartoonsbyJim

Am I alone in being exhausted/annoyed by headlines these days?

I want to stick a needle in my eye.

CRUZ PUNCHES WIFE IN THE FACE
No, he didn’t. I don’t like the guy, everyone knows this, yet the dude is awkward and went to hug his dad and accidentally… UGH
CURRY MAY NEVER PLAY BASKETBALL AGAIN
Seriously? I MAY become queen someday because I am a woman and, well, anything is possible right? C’mon. UGH.
INFLUENCE backed by SCIENCE
Humans are irrational and emotional. There is no science when it comes to influence. Your article has ideas that are not science at all. UGH

These types of headlines may get a person to click on the story and I guess that is the initial goal. Yet, we reduce our brand with people when we DUPE them.

Duping is a bad strategy and this is especially true with conversations. Any influence strategy that includes duping may have an initial gain, they may take the bait. But, you may lose an important tool in influence: future listening and trust. Influence gets reduced when we use fakery to get what we want.

Join our Email List

The Word “Executive” Is Not Silent

An Executive Director/President (ED) is the heartbeat of a movement. She channels collective energy, organizes chaos, and manifests strategy, often with little more than duct tape and a bobby pin. She serves to serve and gives for the good of all, taking charge of...

Presentation Feedback That Isn’t

Photo by Marcos Luiz Photograph on Unsplash It happens a lot. I watch someone, often a woman, absolutely nail a presentation by doing something a bit different from the norm, something that really works for her. Immediately afterward, the speaker is besieged by people...

You’re Not For Everybody (and that’s ok!)

That stuff you hide from others? Start showing them. People aren’t always committed to listen to what we say if they do not like us. Yet, our job as communicators is not to get everyone to like us. This is impossible, and in fact, could actually make people dislike us...