society
PERSUASION, Not Manipulation: The Noble Art of Moving People with Integrity
PERSUASION, Not Manipulation: The Noble Art of Moving People with Integrity
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
In an age defined by information overload, attention scarcity and growing skepticism, the ability to “PERSUADE not MANIPULATE” has never been more vital. Whether in leadership, business, politics, education or personal relationships, persuasion is the ethical superpower that separates the great from the mediocre. Unlike manipulation, which is rooted in deceit and coercion, persuasion is built on empathy, respect, trust and a deep understanding of human nature. It is the art of connection, not control.
Understanding the Foundation of Persuasion
Mastering persuasion begins with understanding people, their fears, desires, values and unspoken needs. The legendary psychologist Abraham Maslow, in his hierarchy of needs, emphasized that human behavior is largely motivated by the pursuit of safety, belonging, esteem and self-actualization. Any message or idea that aligns with these core human motivations gains immediate traction.
In Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Dr. Robert Cialdini outlines six universal principles of ethical persuasion: RECIPROCITY, COMMITMENT and CONSISTENCY, SOCIAL PROOF, AUTHORITY, LIKING and SCARCITY. These principles are not manipulative when applied with honesty and respect. They simply reflect how people naturally make decisions.
Persuasion Begins With Listening, Not Speaking
Contrary to popular belief, persuasion isn’t about who speaks the loudest or uses the fanciest words. It begins with active listening. Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, famously wrote: “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” But persuasive leaders do the opposite. They seek first to understand, then to be understood.
Empathy is the cornerstone of ethical influence. When you genuinely understand your audience’s fears and hopes, your message becomes a mirror of their inner world, not a foreign concept to be resisted. According to a study by Harvard Business Review (2016), leaders who demonstrate empathy drive greater employee engagement, loyalty and performance. The same applies to clients, voters and partners.
Stories Over Statistics, Questions Over Commands
One of the gravest mistakes in communication is relying too heavily on data. While facts are essential, they rarely change minds or hearts on their own. People are not calculators, they are storytellers. Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor and storyteller herself, explains that “stories are just data with a soul.” In other words, stories give life to facts.
Research from Stanford University found that people are 22 times more likely to remember a fact when it’s presented in a story than when it’s shared alone. This is why persuasive communicators use narrative to evoke emotion, visualize transformation and connect with the audience on a human level. Whether it’s Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream,” or Steve Jobs unveiling the iPhone, the most influential figures in history have understood the power of storytelling.
Similarly, great persuaders ask questions more than they give commands. Socrates built an entire philosophy of influence through inquiry. By asking questions, you invite collaboration instead of confrontation. Questions show humility and curiosity, both of which invite trust.
Confidence Over Pressure, Trust Over Fear
Manipulators pressure people. Persuaders project confidence. These are not the same. Confidence comes from clarity, competence and conviction. It is grounded in truth, not theatrics.
Fear may yield short-term compliance, but it breeds long-term resistance. In contrast, trust opens the door to lasting influence. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer (2024), 71% of people say they are more likely to follow a leader they trust, even when they disagree with them. That’s the power of credibility.
Dr. Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Persuasion, done right, leaves people feeling respected not exploited.
In Business and Leadership: Persuasion is Currency
In the corporate world, persuasion is more valuable than any resume or technical skill. Harvard Business School professors John P. Kotter and Dan S. Cohen found in their seminal study that 70% of organizational change efforts fail because leaders rely on logic rather than emotional persuasion. The most successful leaders are those who paint a compelling vision and rally people behind it, not those who issue mandates from a corner office.
Consider the case of Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, who revitalized a stagnant tech giant not by issuing top-down directives, but by building trust, communicating empathy and persuading employees to embrace a new culture of collaboration and innovation. The results speak for themselves, microsoft’s market value has more than tripled under his leadership.
In marketing, companies like Apple and Nike have mastered the art of persuasive branding by aligning with their customers’ identities and aspirations. They don’t just sell products; they sell belonging, empowerment and transformation.
Persuasion in Everyday Life
You don’t have to be a CEO or politician to harness the power of persuasion. Every parent trying to guide a child, every teacher inspiring students, every activist seeking justice and every partner seeking understanding relies on this skill.
A study by Dr. Robert Feldman at the University of Massachusetts found that most people lie in one out of every five interactions to avoid conflict or gain approval. This shows a dangerous tendency toward manipulation, which corrodes relationships over time. In contrast, persuasive individuals build bridges by being authentic, transparent and emotionally intelligent.
How to Cultivate Persuasive Power With Integrity
Know Your Audience: Do your homework. What are their values, fears, goals? What language do they use?
Earn Trust First: Show up consistently. Be credible. Follow through on promises.
Use Clear and Emotionally Resonant Language: Avoid jargon. Speak like a human, not a robot.
Tell Stories That Reflect Shared Values: Make your message feel personal, not transactional.
Ask, Don’t Tell: Use questions to involve, not exclude.
Project Calm Confidence: Panic repels. Poise attracts.
Be Ethical: Always aim for mutual benefit. Leave people better off, not deceived.
Final Thoughts: Lead, Don’t Push
Persuasion is not a dirty word; it is the heartbeat of progress. Great leaders throughout history have used it to rally nations, inspire movements and forge peace. From Nelson Mandela to Barack Obama, from Oprah Winfrey to Malala Yousafzai, the power of persuasion lies not in overpowering others but in uplifting them.
“The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions,” said John Hancock. But influence that lasts is influence that is earned and not demanded.
So in a world hungry for authenticity and meaning, choose to persuade with truth, empathy and conviction. Don’t manipulate, connect. Don’t command, lead. Don’t shout, listen.
When used with integrity, persuasion is not just a skill. It is a force for good. It is how we change minds, touch hearts and move people toward a better future.
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.
In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.
According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.
“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.
The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.
Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.
It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak.
society
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”
Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.
The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.
Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.
Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”
The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.
Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”
While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.
In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.
As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.
Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.
From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.
A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.
Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.
As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.
Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)
May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.
May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.
May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.
May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.
May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.
Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).
More years.
More anointing.
More impact.
If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.
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