Manipulation for the purpose of victory on the battlefield, or otherwise navigating conversations between two professional associates is not a bad thing, no. However, in my studies of personal relationships, I have witnessed nothing to indicate that attempting to manipulate an individual for your own personal gain is anything but bad.

...it is also, I can assure, not my intent at all. My "boss" is content with my performance as it stands, and I have made the acquaintance of multiple females without any form of manipulation coming into play.