Final answer:
Ingratiating tactics are influence tactics that involve acting friendly or making someone feel good before making a request, and are closely related to the foot-in-the-door technique, which is about increasing compliance through consistency in behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The influence tactic that involves acting friendly or making someone feel good or important before making a request is known as Ingratiating tactics. These tactics are often employed to persuade others in a subtle manner by first gaining their approval or likability before advancing a request or proposal. It's closely related to the foot-in-the-door technique, where a persuader starts with a small request to increase the likelihood of agreement to a larger request later.
This approach leverages the principle of consistency, as once people commit to an action, they are more likely to act in a manner consistent with that initial behavior. Ingratiating tactics can be contrasted with methods such as coalition tactics, consultations, and personal appeals, which each have their own nuances in influence strategies.