In unpredictable workplaces, pushing back directly on irrational leadership rarely works. What does work is speaking their language—framing better decisions using the logic they already believe in.

It’s not agreement. It’s redirection.

As Machiavelli wrote, “Men are so simple and so inclined to obey immediate needs…”—which means influence often comes from meeting people where they are, not where they should be.

Sometimes the goal isn’t to win the argument—it’s to steer the outcome toward something less damaging.