Power 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.
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.
Not only did we hear it from Machiavelli,
but also from plenty of voices in our own
time, such as Robert Greene, who said,
“The key 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.
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
RAINMAKERS
Surprising Habits Of
Truly Powerful People
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.
Studies like these are rehabilitating
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
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 be powerful.
You can lead without being a boss and
you can have a powerful influence upon your
workplace and community without a title.
By Dr. Clifford Ferguson
missing the best part. The confidence and
wherewithal that make their influence
possible are earned.
And while what 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
be powerful. You can lead without being a
boss and you can have a powerful influence
upon your workplace and community
without a title.
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
Powerful people aren’t buffeted by the
latest trend or by public opinion. They
form their opinions carefully, based on
the facts. They’re more than willing to
change their mind when the facts support
it, but they aren’t influenced by what other
people think, only by what they know.
They focus only on what
really matters
Powerful people aren’t distracted by
trivialities. They’re able to cut through the
static and clutter, focus on what matters,
and point it out to everyone else. They
speak only when they have something
important to say, and they never bore
people with idle banter.
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
When powerful people speak, their words
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.
They grow and leverage
their networks
Those who grow power the Machiavellian
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.
way don’t bother with people who aren’t
useful to them. People see this coming a
mile away, and it doesn’t win any friends.
Truly powerful people know how to make
lasting connections. Not only do they
know a lot of people, they get to know
their connections’ connections. More
importantly, they add value to everyone in
their network. They share advice and know
how, and they make connections between
people who should get to know each other.
They ask for help when they
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.
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
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 5km stretch.
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 and comments, 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.Ferguson@rainmakers.
uk.com, or visit their website:
Rainmakers.uk.com.
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