How to Coach Yourself and Others Beware of Manipulation | Page 97

6. Spreading false rumors.
Manipulators use this technique for a variety of reasons:
1. They spread false rumors in the hope of forcing out the real story.
Individuals in this category will tell you the opposite of what you wish to hear. They may do so hoping
that you will correct them and as such force out the real story from you. Very private people often fall
prey to this type of tactic because it's targeted at eliciting information from you directly when you've
been reticent so far.
2. They spread false rumors to discredit a person (or product, or company …).
University of Sydney psychotherapist John Clarke has made a life-long study of psychopaths in the
workforce and is the author of two books on the subject - Working with Monsters and The Pocket
Psycho. He says workplace psychopaths commonly intimidate fellow workers, sometimes behave
impulsively, always lack remorse and often are glib and superficially charming.
"About half the people in any workplace v