We've all been there: Someone makes a comment that might sound harmless on the surface, but it leaves you feeling unsettled. Manipulation can be sneaky.
Manipulators want you to question your interpretation of events so they can control the narrative. If you're struggling to figure out what just happened, you can't hold them accountable. They'll use that opening to dodge consequences and get their preferred outcome.
In my decade of advising Fortune 500 companies as a behavioral researcher, I've identified some of the most common phrases manipulators use. Here's how to take your power back and defuse them on the spot.
This is often used after a comment has already crossed a line. When you understandably react to what was said, the manipulator will reframe their tone as humorous. This is meant to make you feel as though your response is the problem.
How to respond: "Whatever your intent was, it didn't land that way for me."
