Find out each Man's
Thumbscrew. ’Tis the art of setting their wills in action. It needs more skill
than resolution. You must know where to get at any one. Every volition has a
special motive which varies according to taste. All men are idolaters, some of
fame, others of self-interest, most of pleasure. Skill consists in knowing
these idols in order to bring them into play.
Knowing any man's
mainspring of motive you have as it were the key to his will. Have resort to
primary motors, which are not always the highest but more often the lowest part
of his nature: there are more dispositions badly organised than well. First
guess a man's ruling passion, appeal to it by a word, set it in motion by
temptation, and you will infallibly give checkmate to his freedom of will.
Baltasar Gracian - The Art of Worldly Wisdom (1647)
Does Cameron keep his hand in his pocket these days? I must check.
3 comments:
I remember a clunky attempt by my CEO to find out what motivated me at work.
"Just think, Sam. If you succeed in this project you'll get cheered to the rafters. [Long, appraising pause, while he was presumably watching for those bits of body-language as listed on his last course]....And you'll get more power...[similar pause]...And it will lead to more money...And promotion...And when it's done you can take it easy..."
It was fun to sit there completely still, with a deadpan face throughout. Practical psychology is harder than the theory.
The words, "Would you like a cup of tea?, never fail.
Sam - ha ha - when both sides know the theory it doesn't work does it? As I recall, they don't teach that.
Demetrius - add an Eccles cake and the lock snaps shut.
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