Rules of Engagement: Third Law

We continue with our discourse below. The next rule in the series.

The ability to influence is a key strategy BUT how does one allow or facilitate the process of choice or choosing in another human being? People are very fickle and tend to follow their own dictates when it comes to making a decision.
Sometimes they may deliberate long and hard BUT often times they will use simple yard sticks to make a decision.
Our job is to assist the decision making process BY providing the choices and tele-guiding them to make the right one.

Without much ado we begin:

RULE Three

1. Men require the illusion of Choice BUT NOT its Reality

Explanation:

• Influence is ONLY as strong as perception of the individual.
• People of course perceive things differently and will therefore opt to make choices based on these perceptions.
• Therefore CHOICE or the ability to select one option over another is the primary tool provided to lull them into a false sense of security.
• CHOICE provides a layer of control especially if you can regulate all choices and determine the outcome regardless of what choice was made.
• CHOICE also taps into the ethos of freewill - a requisite to facilitate influence.
• At the end of the day - a CHOICE/any CHOICE has to be made.
• BUT CHOOSING can be difficult and time consuming.
• PEOPLE are lazy and may opt for an EASY way if it is provided or they may opt to follow the crowd in choosing what others have equally chosen.
• The bottom line is to CONTROL the choices and what happens after they are made.
• People do NOT want others to narrow or limit their options to select - therefore always retain the ability for them to choose on their own BUT control the choices.

BOTTOM LINE: Influence is a deft tool BUT only as long as CHOICE is still permitted. Control the choices and you control the outcome.