Influencing Others

There are two ways to influence others: advising and commanding. Commanding creates fear, which compels people to follow what I believe is right. They adhere as long as fear persists, but it becomes a burden to sustain this fear factor for one and it becomes a struggle for the other to suppress themselves and comply with whatever is asked of them. Furthermore, there is potential for explosive reactions when all the suppressed feelings are suddenly released once the fear subsides for any reason. On the other hand, advising allows others to think and act when they are convinced, while also giving them the opportunity to tailor the advice to their own needs. In the case of stubborn individuals, fear may be necessary to move them, as they may not budge without some form of force. However, it is important to recognize that the use of fear should be limited and not be employed excessively, even if they are unresponsive.

True influence is not found in commanding others, but in empowering them to think and act for themselves.

Influence through advice empowers minds, while influence through fear enslaves souls.