Dealing with cunning people.

Derrick Otieno
3 min readJun 3, 2023

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Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash

Cunning people are those who are smart, shrewd and often use their intelligence to achieve their personal gain.

They do not hesitate to deceive and manipulate others to get what they want. These individuals can be found in all aspects of life - at work, in social circles, and even in families.

Dealing with cunning people can be challenging, but it's important to know the strategies to minimize their effects on our lives.

Identify the Traits of a Cunning Person

To deal with cunning individuals, it's essential to be able to identify them. A cunning person may be charming, manipulative, and insincere.

They may frequently contradict themselves and often work from their personal interests while disregarding those of others.

They are skilled at exploiting the weaknesses of others and using it to their advantage. Spotting these traits early on allows you to take the necessary precautions to limit the impact that their action may have on your life.

Stay Composed

Cunning people may try to provoke an emotional response from you to get what they want. It's important to remain calm and collected when interacting with them.

This can diffuse the situation and stop them from gaining an upper hand. Breathe deeply, think about what you want to say, and respond in a measured and controlled way.

This will help you avoid being drawn into their games and give you space to think more rationally.

Be Assertive

Being assertive means standing up for yourself and holding your ground against a cunning person. This doesn't mean that you should be aggressive or confrontational but you need to be clear about what you want and communicate it firmly.

Set boundaries, express your needs, and say no when necessary. This can help you establish yourself as an independent person and show the cunning person that you cannot be easily manipulated.

Avoid being Gullible

Cunning people are masters at making their intentions look benign while working towards their benefit. It's essential to examine their actions, words, and behavior closely before trusting them.

Don't be gullible to their tactics. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always use your common sense, trust your instincts and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Protect Your Interests

When dealing with cunning people, it's important to remember that they are only concerned with their objectives. Look out for your interests and ensure that you are not vulnerable to their schemes.

Do your research, gather information, and take charge of your decisions. Keep your cards close to your chest, and don't reveal more than you need to protect yourself from being exploited.

Conclusion

Dealing with cunning people can be a challenging and draining experience, but it's essential to know the strategies to minimize its effects on your life.

Recognize the traits of a cunning person, keep your composure, be assertive, avoid being gullible, and protect your interests. By doing these, you can take control of the situation and prevent yourself from being caught up in their schemes.

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