Social Engineering is often referred to in the context of information security. But for our purposes, Social Engineering refers to the manipulation of human behavior to achieve a specific result. This is the bread and butter of spies around the world: the ability to develop an asset and convince somebody to do anything you need.
It is unlikely you’ll need to convince somebody to betray their country, but the skill of being able to approach, evaluate, and converse with anybody will result in massive rewards as new groups, new opportunities, new friends, and new women open up to you.
GATHER INTELLIGENCE
Depending on your goals, you may start with information gathering via open source intelligence (OSINT) or human sources (HUMINT).
Whether you want a better job or access to an exclusive group, you should be as prepared as possible.
- How well versed are you in what a company or group does?
- What value can you provide?
- Are there other connections you can use to help you gain a foothold in this new environment?
Whether it’s newspaper articles, online information, or befriending an executive or key member at the bar, the better prepared you are to gain whatever favor you want to obtain.
MAKE THE APPROACH
In any new social context, making the approach is often the hardest fear for guys to overcome. But it is one of the most necessary skills.
The best way to get over this fear is by approaching and talking to everybody – guys, girls, groups; at work, in the supermarket, at the bar. You never know what connections will prove valuable until you make them.
As you’re getting comfortable with the approach, understand that nobody can have a truly valid opinion of you in the first few seconds of meeting. When you get blown off – and you will – don’t take it personally; use it as a learning experience for the next approach you make.
Keep a smile on your face, make eye contact, stay confident, and meet new people.
THE ART OF CONVERSATION
When you take out the exotic terms and false pretenses, social engineering is all about the art of conversation.
This is a dying art. Even a modicum of skill here will put you head and shoulders above other men and go a long way to ensuring you get what you want in life.
Holding a conversation like a man is done by setting the stage, driving the conversation, and using your eye contact and body language to your utmost advantage.
The gentleman doesn’t engage in one-uppmanship, but doesn’t fade into the background.
Your presence, being fully invested in the conversation rather than zoning out, and your engagement of the group rather than just an individual will work wonders in winning friends and favors in any environment.
QUICK-START GUIDE:
More information and specific recommendations are inside the full Gentleman Spy Program.
Start today by making a point to be friendly or talk to everybody you meet. Smile, make eye contact, approach, and talk. That simple.
You’ll also want to start hedging your bets whenever going in for something you want – a new job, better tickets, upgrades, whatever. Know what you’re asking for, and know whom you’re asking it from. The more information you have, the better you can steer the conversation and more likely you are to get what you need.
When you’re ready for a deep dive into mastering your social skills and more…