Choose not to Participate

          from the Advice column

How do I stop someone playing power games with me?

Put yourself in a position where there is nothing that you want or need from that person. Then when they make a power play they will have no weapon.

You’re absolutely right to want the power games to stop. But you cannot stop someone else from playing them. Only your own actions are in your control. All you can really do is choose not to participate.

This may entail ending the relationship. But I’d prefer to have a relationship with a partner rather than a competitor. If we’re playing games, we’d damned well better be on the same team. Any problems or disagreements we face…those are the opponents.