The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

If you instruct a spect to do something, they may do it, but only because you told them to. To have a sense of agency, spects need to feel like they’re doing things because it’s what they choose to do. This is why it’s better to imply than instruct. You imply by establishing a context within which spects can connect the dots for themselves, which leads them to an action that you have in mind.

Logan looks up as Lena enters his office for a job interview. Instead of saying, “Please have a seat,” Logan motions toward the chair opposite him, while continuing to review Lena’s resume. Lena looks around, then decides she’ll have a seat in the chair.

When you imply instead of instruct, spects have a greater sense of ownership of what they do, even though you’re the one who guided them to do it.