The worst, and most common, way to try to make people think is to use force. When people ask the question, “How can I make people think?” they usually mean, “How can I get other people to think the way I do?” They don’t precisely want more people to think well, since free thinking is unpredictable. Instead, they really want submission, and the way you get submission is by force.

Many organizations, leaders, and even parents use force, which includes intimidation, manipulation, and coercion. Would you want anyone to use these approaches on you? I doubt it. Which leads to the first lesson about making people think: Use the golden rule (or the platinum rule).

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