be powerful. You can lead without being a
boss and you can have a powerful influence
upon your workplace and community
without a title.
RAINMAKERS
11 Surprising Habits
Of Truly Powerful
People
By Dr. Clifford Ferguson
P
ower gets a bad rap, but only because
people pursue it for the wrong
reasons. When power is pursued for
the right reasons, it can be a tremendous
force for good. to power is the ability to judge who is
best able to further your interests in all
situations.” It’s no wonder so many people
think that the only way to get power is to
be a jerk.
Niccolo Machiavelli spread the belief
that people can only become powerful
by exploiting the worst aspects of human
nature. One of his teachings was, “A wise
ruler ought never to keep faith when by
doing so it would be against his interests.”
Machiavelli was essentially saying that
you’re an idiot if you keep your promises
or stick to your values when you’d benefit
more by breaking them. Fortunately, Machiavelli and Greene had
something in common: They were both
wrong. Recent research from UC Berkeley
shows that when it comes to power, nice
guys finish first. The researchers found that
the most powerful people (according to
ratings from their peers) were those who
were the most considerate and outgoing.
They also found that those who were the
most Machiavellian - using things like
gossip and manipulation to gain power -
were quickly identified and isolated and
ended up with no power at all.
Not only did we hear it from Machiavelli,
but also from plenty of voices in our
own time, such as Robert Greene, (the
American Author), who said, “The key
Studies like these are rehabilitating
Recent research from UC Berkeley shows
that when it comes to power, nice guys
finish first. The researchers found that
the most powerful people (according to
ratings from their peers) were those who
were the most considerate and outgoing.
They also found that those who were the
most Machiavellian - using things like
gossip and manipulation to gain power -
were quickly identified and isolated and
ended up with no power at all.
76 MAL29/19 ISSUE
power’s bad rap. Power isn’t inherently evil,
and it isn’t inherently bad to seek power.
Without power, you can’t accomplish
anything, good or evil.
Even those who want nothing more than
to make the world a better place, can’t
do so without exerting the influence of
personal power. It’s the abuse of power
and the underhanded things people do to
achieve it that cause problems.
People who earn and use power wisely
have a profound impact on everyone they
encounter. Yet, they achieve this power
only because they exert so much influence
inside, on themselves.
We see only their outside; we see them
innovate, speak their mind, and propel
themselves forward toward bigger and
better things. Yet, we’re missing the best
part. The confidence and wherewithal that
make their influence possible are earned.
And while some people are influenced by
changes with the season, the unique habits
of powerful people remain constant. Their
focused pursuit of excellence is driven by
eleven habits, which you can emulate and
absorb until your power and influence
expand:
They don’t wait for a title to
lead
It’s important not to confuse power with
authority. The right title can give you
authority, but it can’t give you power. On
the other hand, you don’t need a title to
They’re graciously
disruptive
Powerful people are never satisfied with the
status quo. They’re the ones who constantly
ask, “What if?” and “Why not?” They’re
not afraid to challenge conventional
wisdom, and they don’t disrupt things for
the sake of being disruptive; they do so to
make things better.
They think for themselves
spread like ripples in a pond. Influencers
inspire everyone around them to explore
new ideas and to think differently about
their work.
They know their strengths
and weaknesses
People who get seduced by power and,
therefore, start abusing it are often blind
to their own weaknesses. To become truly
powerful, you have to see yourself as you
really are and to position yourself to use
your strengths for the greater good. That
means taking a clear-eyed look at your
strengths and your weaknesses and owning
them both completely.
Powerful people aren’t buffeted by the
latest trend or by public opinion. They They grow and leverage
form their opinions carefully, based on
their networks
the facts. They’re more than willing to
change their mind when the facts support
Those who grow power the Machiavellian
it, but they aren’t influenced by what other
way don’t bother with people who aren’t
people think, only by what they know.
useful to them. People see this coming a
mile away, and it doesn’t win any friends.
Truly powerful people know how to make
They focus only on what
lasting connections. Not only do they
really matters
know a lot of people, they get to know
their connections’ connections. More
Powerful people aren’t distracted by
importantly, they add value to everyone in
trivialities. They’re able to cut through the
their network. They share advice and know
static and clutter, focus on what matters,
how, and they make connections between
and point it out to everyone else. They
people who should get to know each other.
speak only when they have something
important to say, and they never bore
people with idle banter.
They ask for help when they
They master conflict
People tend to err on one of two extremes
when it comes to conflict: some are passive
and avoid conflict altogether, while others
seek out conflict aggressively, thinking that
this will make them powerful. People who
master conflict know how to approach it
directly and assertively, yet constructively.
Truly powerful people do not react
emotionally and defensively to dissenting
opinions - they welcome them. They’re
humble enough to know that they don’t
know everything and that someone else
might see something they missed. And if
that person is right, they embrace the idea
wholeheartedly, because they care more
about the end result than being right.
They inspire conversation
need it
It’s easy to mistakenly assume that
powerful people never ask for help from
anybody. Asking for help when you don’t
know the answer or can’t do it all by
yourself is not a sign of weakness; it’s a
sign of strength. It sends the message that
you’re not so insecure as to put your ego
above the mission.
It takes a tremendous amount of
confidence and humility to admit that you
need assistance, and asking for assistance
is critical, because there’s nothing worse
than trucking down the wrong path when
you’re too embarrassed or proud to admit
that you don’t know what you’re doing.
They believe
Powerful people always expect the best.
When powerful people speak, their words They believe in their own power to achieve
their dreams, and they believe that others
share that same power. They believe that
nothing is out of reach and that belief
inspires those around them to stretch for
their own goals. They firmly believe that
one person can change the world.
They do it now
Way back in 1894, Orison Swett Marden
(American inspirational author) made
an important point: “Don’t wait for
extraordinary opportunities. Seek common
occasions and make them great. Weak
men wait for opportunities. Strong men
make them.” If you put off growing your
power until the right opportunity comes
along, it’s never going to happen. Powerful
people know that developing power is a
lot like lifting weights or running a 5K.
The only way to strengthen those muscles
is by using them, so stop making excuses
and just start. You know what you believe
in, you know who you are, and you know
what you want to become, so act like it.
Yes, it will be uncomfortable at times, and
yes, some people will tell you you’re doing
it wrong, but the only way to achieve
power and use it for good is to get out
there and do it.
Bringing It All Together
Boris Yeltsin once said, “You can make a
throne of bayonets, but you can’t sit on it
for very long.” Forget everything you’ve
heard about power, because, in the end,
the nice guys really do win. Whether you
call it power or influence, it’s okay to want
it and it’s okay to have it. You just have to
pursue it and use it with integrity.
Have you seen people abuse power? Please
share your thoughts vide the address
below, as I learn just as much from you as
you do from me.
Dr. Clifford J. Ferguson is the
Managing Partner of Rainmakers,
and Chairman of Glad’s House.
You can commune with him on this
or related matters via email at: Cliff.
[email protected], or
visit their website: Rainmakers.
uk.com.