Manipulative leadership entails the use of tactics aimed at achieving one's goals and exerting control over others, as opposed to ethical and emotionally intelligent leadership, which seek to inspire, motivate, and develop subordinates.
A leader employing a manipulative approach may use various methods, including:
Unfulfilled promises:
A leader may make promises or threats to manipulate the behavior of others. They may knowingly fail to fulfill promises to achieve desired outcomes or control others.
Information manipulation:
A leader may hide or distort information to influence the decisions of others. They may employ manipulation tactics to create false perceptions of a situation or suppress alternative viewpoints.
Emotional manipulation:
A leader can manipulate the emotions of others to control their behavior. They may use stress, fear, guilt, or manipulative techniques to ensure obedience or compliance with their demands.