Psychology: Trick or truth?

Use your powers for good

Lately we've started exploring some of the psychological and behavioral lenses through which we can view our work as product leaders: motivation, behavior change, ethics.

In a recent coaching session discussing changes an HoP might make to support more intrinsic motivation within the team, it became clear that for many people, the application of such insights amount to "psychological tricks."

I'd suggest that they are psychological truths, not tricks.

This is a matter of ethics and discernment.

Ethically: are these insights being applied to harm, or help?

When they are used to manipulate in harmful or selfish ways, they are "tricks."

When they are used to better lead, manage, and influence in beneficial ways, they are skillful means.

**Telling the difference is a test of discernment. Acting on it is a test of ethics.**