Stalin learns survival strategies to neutralize "invisible pressure"

"Who have any opinions?"

That single word from the leader freezes the atmosphere. Everyone looks at each other's complexions, and after a few seconds of silence, someone speaks blandly in favor. Have you ever chosen to wise (or timid) silence, swallowing "but..." that went all the way to your throat?

The silence is a sign of the team's death. And if you don't know the true nature of this "invisible pressure" and learn how to deal with it, you will be quietly eroding not only your team but also your own career.

Key Takeaway
The conversation between Stalin, the most terrifying dictator in history, and science fiction writer Wells is a microcosm of the "invisible pressure" that occurs in modern conference rooms. From this dialogue, you will understand the power play hidden behind the words, learn survival strategies to protect yourself and maximize your team's results.

Roughly speaking

Stalin is next to you: Even though his words are polite, he exposes the "modern Stalin" techniques that cleverly contain the other person's opinions.
Silence is not money, it's a sign of stopping thinking: Explains how undisputed meetings can destroy your team's creativity and your market value.
Three survival strategies you can use starting tomorrow: Disable the "invisible pressure" hidden in the meeting and present specific action plans to strategically pass your opinions on.

Worst Pressure Interview of All Time: Wells vs Stalin

In 1934, science fiction master H.G. Wells spoke with Soviet dictator Stalin. Wells, on behalf of Western intellectuals, believed that rational dialogue could make the world better. He speaks of a hopeful future that educated engineers and intellectuals should guide society, not class struggles.

However, Stalin mercilessly crushes Welles' optimism, one by one, with the cold logic hidden behind his polite language.

Wells: "Education can change the world without resorting to violence." Stalin: "A great ideal, but do you think the ruling class will give in to its position by itself? They will resist with violence. The only way to counter it is violence."

Wells: "President Roosevelt is trying to build a new world." Stalin: "He's just trying to prevent the collapse of the capitalist economy. You don't seem to see the true form of your enemy either."

At first glance, this dialogue appears to be an intellectual argument. However, the reality was nothing more than a "public execution" in which Stalin declared Wells' idealism as "naive silly" and completely crushed the legitimacy of his power and violence on the other side's basis. Stalin proved his absolute righteousness by not leaving Wells alone in silence.

"Invisible Pressure" lurking in your meeting room

Do you not recognise this composition somewhere?

Is there anyone in your meeting who, although polite, never handed over the lead in the discussion and cleverly contain opposing opinions? They use data as a shield to dismiss it as "it's not realistic," or dismiss the discussion by saying, "It's an interesting perspective, but this time..."

Like Stalin, they show their authority by refuting their opponents and dominate the atmosphere of the situation. As a result, the other members become timid and choose to silence, saying, "Whatever you say is useless." In this way, diverse perspectives are lost and the buds of innovation are plucked away. This is a suicide for the team.

Three survival strategies to survive

So, how should we deal with this "invisible pressure"? Here we propose three specific survival strategies that can be implemented starting tomorrow.

Don't fight on your opponent's ring: bring it into a thought experiment with "if you want" Stalin dragged Wells into the ring of "reality vs. ideal" and won. Don't make the same mistakes over and over again. Rather than rebutting head-on, they ask the question in the form of thought experiments, "If this premise is wrong, what is the possibility?" This allows the opponent to neutralize the opponent's ring and shift the argument to a new dimension.
Read the intent of silence: ask "Dearly a stupid question" People who control the atmosphere of the situation often use complex technical terms and esoteric logic to try to sniff others. Silence here makes the other person want to be. I'm very sorry, but my understanding has not been kept up to. What exactly does the word XX mean? Let me ask you a basic question. People who really understand it should be able to explain it in plain language. If not, the authority will be plating off.
Trustrate "pre-dialogue" called rooting 80% of meetings are scheduled before they begin. Have a one-on-one conversation in advance with influential people and key people who might agree with your opinion. This is not a form of insidious faction. It is a healthy process to pre-examine and reinforce the logic of your own opinions. They ask, "Would you like to hear some opinions about XX?" and create "ally" to avoid being isolated in meetings.

Conclusion: Tactics to protect your intelligence

Stalin and Wells' dialogue is more than just a historical frame. It is a timeless allegory that shows how helpless intelligence can be when power and intelligence clash.

There may be no dictators in your workplace. But there are "little Stalins" everywhere who try to control debate with invisible pressure. Being silent in front of them means stopping thinking and is nothing more than an act of degrading your professional value.

The survival strategies introduced this time are more than just life techniques. It is an essential tactic for modern business people to protect your intelligence and career and guide your team in a healthy direction.

The reference article is here. You can read the full interview. https://cruel.hatenablog.com/entry/2020/10/15/110928