The way we see and think about people is often the difference between manipulating them and empowering them. If we don’t want to help people but we want them to help us, we are headed for troubled times.
Manipulation occurs when we try to use them for our personal gain and advantage.
Empowerment happens when we value them, and we try to help them for mutual advantage.
When we choose the empowerment and value path, we both win.
Ask yourself: how do you see people? Are they potential recipients of the value you can add to them or are they just nuisances until you really need them?
If you want to stay away from manipulation or the temptation to do so, you must see people as valuable first.