As a business coach and mentor, I am frequently asked how to cope with people who are clearly not telling the whole story. Something sounds wrong.

“Ten techniques used by manipulators” is the title of a blog, which sets out just how nasty some bosses and colleagues are in the workplace.

Interestingly enough, such habits extend to suppliers, clients and as far as our social arena.

The blog is a very useful read. It sets out the very different approaches that the ‘nasties’ use. There is anything from aggressive to using third parties to the gentle manner, and much more. Each one comes with a self-help message.

And that is where the problem comes in. There is just too much to be aware of.

Once I had stepped-back, I looked at the pointers again. They added up to one key message.

Value yourself. Know your key strengths. Understand what are your core values and why you put them there. 

At the end of the day a manipulator wants to encourage you to pull down your own fundamentals.

A manipulator tries to maneuver their way around these rocks. Yes, they are rocks, very impressive boulders. Your own self worth.

So, make sure that you do not help them clear the path through towards……the wrong turning in your life. They make it sound so easy to say yes, when actually “no” is a shorter and simply word to utter.