The Slowing Down Power
I like Dr. Travis Bradberry, who is one of the linkedin
influencer and the award-winning co-author of a bestselling book. He always
comes up with nice articles in the linkedin. Recently I read an article in
which he talks about Power and how it is in relation to the people. According
to him: “Power gets a bad rap, 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.”
He talked about Niccolo Machiavelli who 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.
He even talked about, 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 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.
Bradberry establishes in his article that, “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.”
According to him 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 what people are influenced by changes with the season, the unique habits
of powerful people remain constant. Bradberry explains about the powerful
people’s focused pursuit of excellence is driven by eleven habits, which you
can emulate and absorb until your power and influence expand. The following eleven aspects that is
explained in nutshell by Bradberry would be helpful for any person who feels
that they are not powerful.
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 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 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.
He conclude his article by quoting Boris Yeltsin, “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.
So slow Down and get enough energy to be powerful in your
life.
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