Get Anyone to do Anything?

In his book "Get Anyone to do Anything - and never feel Powerless Again", Dr David Lieberman reveals an arsenal of potent psychological techniques for increased influence in ALL situations. This blog investigates his claims and asks: Is it possible to get others to yield to our will? and if it is, should we?

It has been almost a year since this blog was last posted to! However, the adventure towards 'optimal work/life balance' (investigated and updated in our sister blog 'The 6 Hour workweek journal') continues to develop, and the opportunity to truly progress with the 'Vision' of Goodcommerce, is irresistibly unfolding. To begin this new year, now with 'time' at hand, I thought we might dive into some really tasty morsels. I want to deliver these appraisals in small bite size chunks so that people can digest them before moving on - is that OK? [Feeling hungry?]

Over the coming weeks we will explore Dr Lieberman's claims and evaluate the methods in his book. If you can't wait and would like to grapple with his theories, please use the link below. You won't pay any extra but you will help support our endeavours.

"Stop feeling powerless!" It shouts in the intro, offering rock solid methods to get what you want "reduced to an easy-to-follow formula - a series of simple techniques and tactics"

He claims "This book contains only specific psychological tactics governing human behaviour that will let you outsmart, out-think, and outmanoeuvre...anyone, anyplace, anytime." [BIG claim!]


The book is divided into 5 sections:
1. Get anyone to like you, love you, or plain just think you're great!
2. Never be fooled, tricked, manipulated, used, lied to, or taken advantage of again.
3. Take Control of any situation and get anyone to do anything.
4. How to win at any competition: Beat out anyone for the job, for the date, or for the game.
5. Make life easy: Learn how to take life's most annoying, frustrating, and difficult situations and get the upper hand every time!

We'll begin with the 1st chapter of the first section: Get anyone to like you...every time:

Dr Lieberman states "..these aren't ways to manipulate other people into liking you. Rather, you'll be orchestrating the application of certain psychological principles and methodologies to bring out and develop a natural chemistry." In other words what Dr Lieberman is suggesting is that these techniques facilitate an unfolding of what is already there, that it is about making it easier for people to express what they really feel in a positive way. [OK that doesn't sound too provocative]

He emphasises that mutual liking underpins all successful relationships. He cites 9 psychological principles which when combined appropriately, significantly increase the chances of being liked by someone.

1. Familiarity breeds fondness, not contempt! The more you are around a positive person the more they grow on you. Be that positive person and be around.
2. The law of association says we associate people with the mood we're in when they are around. Avoid someone in a bad mood and be around when they're feeling good.
3. The principle of Reciprocal Affection says we like people more if they like us. He suggests we gently impress upon those we want to influence that we like them. He also says that we should 'gradually' impress this upon them if they don't like us!
4. Similarity is a principle of 'like mixes with like' - Birds of a feather! Always find common ground and focus on that.
5. Compliments and gestures of affection will always warm someone up. It must be subtle though.
6. Rapport is about a sense of synchronicity, in other words making gestures and behaviours that mirror and compliment another person's, puts them at ease.
7. Cognitive Dissonance theory suggests that our actions towards others are followed by a rationalisation of why we did what we did. If we hurt someone we often justify our action by reducing their value to us in order to 'justify' our actions. The reverse is also true, if we do something for someone that makes us feel good, we rationalise that they are more important. So to get people to like us we should get them to 'do us a good turn'.
8. 'Humanise' yourself. Although we admire confident people, we have more affection for people who don't seem so omnipotent. Whenever you make a mistake, laugh at the situation and be humble.
9. A positive attitude, comfortably restrained, creates an aura that is attractive. In other words joyful not egotistical!

[The key is intent. If you have a selfish agenda, then this is manipulative. If you simply seek to incorporate these gently into your way of being and intend it only to subtly increase your influence for selfless purposes, then it is to be applauded.]

In the next post we will look at 'Get Anyone to find you Irresistibly Attractive.'