How to master the fine art of flattery
It's also been decried, according to historian Willis Goth Regier's "In Praise of Flattery," as "that filthy science," "the worst of vices," and the "prostitution of empty praise."
But flattery, historically and continually, serves a vital purpose - indeed, that's the difference between flattery and praise. Flattery is when praise seeks a reward, as Regier puts it. And it is considered by some "the most useful of all arts."
As we know, another person's ego can be your foe. In her book, "No One Understands You And What To Do About It," social psychologist Heidi Grant Halvorson explains that when someone feels threatened by your potential superiority and success, their egos can run amok and cause them to downplay your successes and even distance themselves from you.
Flattery, however, can be the great vanquisher - if used correctly.
The rules for flattery, or affirmation as Halvorson calls it, are threefold:
- US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- ICICI Bank shares climb nearly 5% after Q4 earnings; mcap soars by ₹36,555.4 crore
- Markets rebound sharply on buying in bank stocks firm global trends
- Bengaluru's rental income highest in Q1-2024, Mumbai next: Anarock report
- Rupee falls 10 paise to settle at 83.48 against US dollar
- Include 4 hrs of physical activity, 8 hrs sleep in routine for optimal health, suggests study
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market