Thesis
Constructive Influence
Destructive Influence
Destructive Influence treats collaboration as a zero-sum game. It’s a form of manipulation that seeks to control others by undermining their confidence, autonomy, and agency. It’s a form of power that seeks to dominate others by making them feel small, weak, and dependent. It’s a form of coercion that seeks to exploit others by making them feel guilty, ashamed, and afraid. It’s a form of abuse that seeks to harm others by making them feel hurt, confused, and isolated. It’s a form of violence that seeks to destroy others by making them feel powerless, hopeless, and worthless. It’s a form of domination and control rather than collaboration. Over time, people either fear you or ignore you. So it may work for a while, but over time innovation and creativity are stifled. People are afraid to speak up, to take risks, to try new things. They become complacent, disengaged, and demoralized. They stop caring about their work, their team, and their organization. They stop caring about themselves. They stop caring about others. They stop caring about the world. They stop caring about the future. They stop caring about anything. They stop caring. They stop. They.
The sense of psychological safety is systematically undermined. The loud voices repeat approved messages, while the quiet voices are silenced.
People will give you the benefit of the doubt for a while. But over time you will teach them not to. If you approach influence or leadership as zero-sum games you will teach people that you prioritize obedience and loyalty over trust.
Your influence will not scale.