PERSONALITY TYPES (part B)
by
Charles Lamson
Machiavellianism. People with the next personality orientation (continued from the last article) can be useful to the organization, if they are working with and for the organization and not against it. These people are "Machiavellians." Niicoli Machiavelli wrote the book The Prince, in which he described what a prince would need to do to be an effective leader, and rise to greater control of a society . The book was long on tactics and short on morality. People who are highly manipulative have come to be known as "Machiavellians."
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People high in Machiavellian tendencies are willing to manipulate others, enjoy manipulating others, and are good at it.Usually, they are good at it. Usually they get what they want, either for themselves, or for their organization. This is not to suggest that Machiavellians necessarily are evil, or that manipulation is wrong. Although, Machiavellians do not typically subscribe to traditional high moral principals, that does not mean they are immoral. They view their manipulative skills as amoral tools. Morals are simply not an issue. If people are manipulated into doing something against their best interests, others might be appalled, but the high Machiavellian would more likely be amused.
How do you know a high Machiavellan when you see one? Usually you do not, unless you go out of your way to look. It is rare that high Machiavellians are widely recognized in an organization. Machiavellians can be identified if you look for the following: They seem to get what they want without being pushy, they get people to do things for them that those people would not do for others, they rarely look as if they are manipulating, they generally are well liked by others in the organization, and they usually do well in the organizational environment.
Machiavellians typically do well in the "people professions." that is, they succeed when influencing people is necessary for success. Some typical occupations with a large proportion of high Machiavellians include education, law, religion, politics, fund raising, and many forms of sales. Most people that rise to the top, or near the top, in most organizations have high Machiavellian tendencies. High Machiavellians will manipulate to help themselves, or others. Hence, they can be very good friends - or dreadful enemies.
How should one communicate with Machiavellians? Very carefully. Remember, they get their way by being nice to others. They do not steal your money or power, They get you to give it to them. When communicating with a high Machiavellian, you need to be careful to have everything spelled out in detail. Do not consent to anything unless you are absolutely certain you know what you are doing, and it is in your best interests.There are plenty of easy targets for high Machiavellians to manipulate. If you can manage to delay, there usually is little reason for Machiavellians to manipulate. If you can manage to delay, there usually is little reason for Machiavellians to persist in trying to take advantage of you. If they are just doing it for fun, your delaying it takes the fun out of it. If they really are after some benefit, they quickly recognize their time would be better spent by going after another target.
While high Machiavellians provide a challenge to other people in the organization, low Machiavllians present a different picture. These are particularly easy to manipulate. Hence, they are unreliable colleagues and/or friends. Whoever has the last word, has these people on their side. This is a particularly serious problem if you have such a person for a supervisor. Who knows what others will convince this person to do that will not be in your best interests? The only advice the writers of this book can give you, and it is easier said than done, is to be sure you get the last opportunity to influence this person before they have to make a decision important to you. Low Machiavellians often are spineless wonders you find in middle-management positions, who in good faith promise you one thing and do the opposite - because someone else persuaded them to change their mind.
END
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