--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If people think the boss is manipulating…" description: "\"If people think the boss is manipulating them to get them to work harder, it backfires.\" — John P. Kotter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/john-p-kotter-7969_boss_if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating_1754888.png" --- # If people think the boss is manipulating them to get them… ![“If people think the boss is manipulating them to get them to work harder, it backfires.” quote by John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/john-p-kotter-7969_boss_if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating_1754888.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/john-p-kotter-7969_boss_if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating_1754888.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/john-p-kotter-7969_boss_if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating_1754888.png) > “If people think the boss is manipulating them to get them to work harder, it backfires.” [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When employees sense manipulation, they resist and productivity drops. **In simple terms:** Manipulation backfires on workers. Key Takeaway Avoid coercive tactics. Themes leadership motivation trust Mood cautious reflective Type advisory practical When to use this quote - team meetings - performance reviews - change initiatives Key Concepts psychology organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders build genuine trust? - What alternatives to pressure exist? A Different Perspective People may still disengage despite transparent communication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Boss Manipulating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss-manipulating-1639245/) [Harder Backfires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-backfires-1639246/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-boss-503158/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-harder/) ## Related quotes > [If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldnt have a job if he was any smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varsha-sharma/if-you-think-your-boss-is-stupid-remember-you-wouldnt-have-a-job-if/) [Varsha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varsha-sharma/) > [When I think about what sort of person I would most like to have on a retainer, I think it would be a boss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/when-i-think-about-what-sort-of-person-i-would-most-like-to-have-on-a/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [You think your a boss? bitch look at me and see a real boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-garcia/you-think-your-a-boss-bitch-look-at-me-and-see-a-real-boss/) [Isabel Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-garcia/) > [Some people think Boss's Day is a just a way to try to get in good with the boss. I promise I would never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-think-boss-s-day-is-a-just-a-way-to-try-to-get-in-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think your boss is stupid. Remember You would not get the job. If he was smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab/if-you-think-your-boss-is-stupid-remember-you-would-not-get-the-job/) [AB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab/) > [“I have to keep her in line somehow or she'll think she's the boss of everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-thomas-ford/i-have-to-keep-her-in-line-somehow-or-she-ll-think-she-s-the-boss-of/) [Michael Thomas Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-thomas-ford/) > [If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldn't have a job if he was any smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-think-your-boss-is-stupid-remember-you-wouldn-t-have-a-job-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bosses are the ones calling the shots, as they should in any organization. And if you think you're above your boss, that's not reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/bosses-are-the-ones-calling-the-shots-as-they-should-in-any/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [If only we know, boss, what the stones and rain and flowers say. Maybe they call-call us-and we don't hear them. When will people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/if-only-we-know-boss-what-the-stones-and-rain-and-flowers-say-maybe/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Your parents ask you to follow the standard path: School, job, security. Is this really the best way? I don't think so - be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/your-parents-ask-you-to-follow-the-standard-path-school-job-security/) [Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/) > [I don't know what other people think about me being the boss, but I really like a collaborative work environment, and I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/i-don-t-know-what-other-people-think-about-me-being-the-boss-but-i/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) > [“I like to think of myself as a coworker with lots of experience rather than a boss,” Franklin said. I like to think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-veselka/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-a-coworker-with-lots-of-experience/) [Vanessa Veselka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-veselka/) > [“To succeed in this competition means finding yourself in a place where you call the shots and gets the gain. This is not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emi-iyalla/to-succeed-in-this-competition-means-finding-yourself-in-a-place/) [Emi Iyalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emi-iyalla/) > [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) ## More by John P. Kotter > [At any one time the world has a very limited number of Steve Jobs or Winston Churchills or Thomas Watson the firsts. These are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/at-any-one-time-the-world-has-a-very-limited-number-of-steve-jobs-or/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [In a change effort, culture comes last, not first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/in-a-change-effort-culture-comes-last-not-first/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Motivation is not a thinking word; it's a feeling word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/motivation-is-not-a-thinking-word-it-s-a-feeling-word/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [One of the most common ways to overcome resistance to change is to educate people about it beforehand. Communication of ideas helps people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/one-of-the-most-common-ways-to-overcome-resistance-to-change-is-to/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Producing major change in an organization is not just about signing up one charismatic leader. You need a group - a team - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/producing-major-change-in-an-organization-is-not-just-about-signing/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Congress is full of people who get reelected and reelected. How can you have urgency when there are all of those safe seats?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/congress-is-full-of-people-who-get-reelected-and-reelected-how-can/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Commercial organisations that operate responsibly have benefitted by increased revenues of 682% compared to 166% for those that don't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/commercial-organisations-that-operate-responsibly-have-benefitted-by/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [I am often asked about the difference between 'change management' and 'change leadership,' and whether it's just a matter of semantics. These terms are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/i-am-often-asked-about-the-difference-between-change-management-and/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/leadership-defines-what-the-future-should-look-like-aligns-people/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Over the years I have become convinced that we learn best - and change - from hearing stories that strike a chord within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/over-the-years-i-have-become-convinced-that-we-learn-best-and-change/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [What's really driving the boom in coaching, is this: as we move from 30 miles an hour to 70 to 120 to 180…as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/what-s-really-driving-the-boom-in-coaching-is-this-as-we-move-from-30/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [In terms of getting people to experiment more and take more risk, there are at least three things that immediately come to my mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/in-terms-of-getting-people-to-experiment-more-and-take-more-risk/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Great communicators have an appreciation for positioning. They understand the people they're trying to reach and what they can and can't hear. They send…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/great-communicators-have-an-appreciation-for-positioning-they/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [We worry about appearing awkward in a presentation. But up to a point, most people seem to feel more comfortable with less-than-perfect speaking abilities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/we-worry-about-appearing-awkward-in-a-presentation-but-up-to-a-point/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Kotter International is about leading large-scale change, not just managing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/kotter-international-is-about-leading-large-scale-change-not-just/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) [Explore all 85 John P. Kotter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) ## More Boss quotes > [ME AND SUMMER GUNNA BE MOVING IN TOGETHER HELL YA ITS GUNNA BE BOSS!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/me-and-summer-gunna-be-moving-in-together-hell-ya-its-gunna-be-boss/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) > [“having sex with her boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-henning/having-sex-with-her-boss/) [Stephen Henning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-henning/) > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [It is reassuring for people to feel they have a boss, someone who knows the answers and has charted the course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/it-is-reassuring-for-people-to-feel-they-have-a-boss-someone-who/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [ I remember Robin \[Williams\] walked up to me after the last take and said, "Thanks boss! We nailed it!" That will probably be one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguire/i-remember-robin-williams-walked-up-to-me-after-the-last-take-and/) [Roberto Aguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-aguire/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Your manager is your boss and tells you what to do, what to wear and who to be, so our relationship changed. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcdonald/your-manager-is-your-boss-and-tells-you-what-to-do-what-to-wear-and/) [Jane McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcdonald/) > [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“Pizza as a reward at work, gotta love it. Personally, I'd rather have that than a raise. Give me a pizza, boss, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/pizza-as-a-reward-at-work-gotta-love-it-personally-i-d-rather-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. They set traps, asking you to do things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-me-spell-it-out-with-the-psychotic-boss-nothing-you-do-is-ever/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Browse all 1,833 Boss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If people think the boss is manipulating them to get them to work harder, it backfires.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John P. Kotter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating-them-to-get-them-to-work/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boss" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating-them-to-get-them-to-work/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/john-p-kotter-7969_boss_if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating_1754888.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/john-p-kotter-7969_boss_if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating_1754888.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/john-p-kotter-7969_boss_if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating_1754888.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If people think the boss is manipulating them to get them to work harder, it backfires.” — John P. Kotter", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John P. Kotter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If people think the boss is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating-them-to-get-them-to-work/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/if-people-think-the-boss-is-manipulating-them-to-get-them-to-work/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```