# Countering Intimidation Tactics By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2023-05-18 Some managers get off on intimidating their employees. They want them to be afraid and nervous when presenting an idea or the outcomes of a project. The joy they feel is power and control over others. But it also gives them the upper hand. If everyone is nervous around them, they can ask questions and make statements that fluster everyone in the meeting. This makes the manager feel smart and gives them asymmetrical influence beyond what is already given to them by their positional power. Biologically when you are nervous or upset, you cannot access the logical part of your brain. Instead, the instinctual part of our brain overrides, and it's incapable of speech and thinking. This is why you walk away from an encounter with an asshole only to realize the perfect comeback when you calm down. When a manager puts you into this state, they hinder your ability to think so they can easily outmaneuver you and everyone else in the room. High-pressure salespeople and assholes are great at these kinds of tactics. If you find yourself in one of these situations, the best thing you can do to recover quickly is control your breathing - inhale for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, and repeat. With practice, you'll bring your heart rate back under control. This will allow your thinking brain to start working again. More details are available in [[Coherence - The Science of Exceptional Leadership and Performance]]. Perhaps you are the manager instilling fear and leading with intimidation. Should you continue? Well, you'll certainly get your way, and it may look like people on your team do what you say. This might get you a promoted in today's modern business climate. But, if you care about making progress and the mission, you will fail as you don't have all the answers. Diversity of thought generates new and unexpected ways of doing things. The road to progress isn't paved with one person's vision, no matter what the mass media says. It's paved with diverse ideas that integrate into a new whole. Shutting everyone else down is the ultimate selfish, insecure, and cowardly move. This is why people call you an asshole behind your back. #### Related Items [[Assholes]] [[Management]] [[Thinking]] [[Fear]] [[Work]] [[Diversity]] [[Progress]]