Power, Leadership and You
by Michelle Randall
Published on this site: October 7th, 2005 - See
more articles from this month
Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, George Bush, Bill Gates, Oprah
Winfrey - people who have power are subject to both reverence
and distain. They engender great loyalty and animosity based
partially on the natural alliance we feel with what they
choose to do with their power, but more so as a result of their personal
choices based on the impact that power has on them. There's
been plenty written and discussed about how to gather and
wield power, and there are plenty of people ready to tell
you what to do with your power. But why is there so little
discussion of the impact that power has on an individual
other than the adage, "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts
absolutely"?
Power is hugely important to how effectively leaders can
lead. It's crucial that we are comfortable with having it
and that we use it effectively. We can have a lousy relationship
with power if we are uncomfortable with using it or by attempting
to hide from it. At the other extreme, it becomes very dangerous
when we start to think that the power of the position that
we hold is actually our own, our identity.
To understand and engage with the impact that power has on
us, it's crucial to make clear the distinction between positional
power and personal power. By its very nature, positional power
is transient. If we become overly seduced by its trappings,
we will compromise ourselves and do anything in order to hold
on to it. Also, if we lose sight that the power is in the position,
not us, we can believe in our own invincibility and start
to do things that are just, well, stupid. Have another look
at the list of people I started with to see for yourself when
this phenomena has and hasn't occurred.
In contrast to positional power, personal power is our own
internal power; we cultivate it in ourselves which makes it
the only form of power that cannot be taken away. Every positional
leader is destined to become an ex-something one day because
power that we hold transiently is just a phase of life. This
fact becomes much more manageable if we've consciously stayed
powerful in ourselves throughout this process.
Here are six steps for developing your own personal power
and having a great relationship with positional power:
- The Company You Keep
One of the keys used by people who are successful in navigating
the impacts of power is the careful selection of the characteristics
of the people who they keep closest to them. It's this resource
of honest feedback that helps compensate for self-reflection
lost to demanding schedules and our simple human inability
to see ourselves fully all the time.
- Authenticity
The key to staying true to yourself is a ruthless commitment
to authenticity and vision. Authenticity knows who you are
detached from any role, office or association. Identify
and recognize the differences between you and your job in
order to guard and preserve your own identity.
- Vision
Know what really matters to you in life as the root structure
for your personal vision. Routinely ask yourself what does
it look like for you to win at the game of life, and what
are the values that are fundamental to you. On the flip
side, figure out what tempts you, what could lead you astray
from fulfilling your vision, and put plenty of barriers
in between you and betraying yourself.
- Simplicity
The most straightforward way to stay true to your vision
is to keep your life simple. Our own personal fundamentals
usually involve our loved ones and making a meaningful contribution
with our lives. Be vigilantly ordinary; it helps you stay
in touch with yourself. Just ask Warren Buffet. He still
lives in the same house since before becoming "the
Oracle of Omaha" and the second richest person in the world.
- Humility
Cultivate humility. It is from your rooted and authentic
self that you can better promote mutual understanding, making
sure that people know you, the real you. View your accomplishments
with detachment and acknowledge your faults to yourself
and others, so that everybody understands you're not perfect.
That way, you're not going to get trapped into pretending
that you are.
- Self-Reflection
Invest in more self-reflection, not less. Stay in touch
with yourself by making sure you get plenty of agenda-free
feedback. This is one of the main reasons many people work
with a coach because it provides them great freedom to explore
and plan in an environment where no one wants you to meet
their needs or get feedback from a source that isn't dependent
on currying your favor.
When we consider both cultural icons and the people, we
know it's clear that power is a dual-edged sword to be treated
with great care and respect. If you put as much care into
cultivating your own personal power and staying in choice
in the face of the impact that power has on you, you'll
be well on your way to personal sustainability and outstanding
leadership.
Michelle Randall, President & Executive Coach The
Juncture Company "Developing Innovative Leaders"
Website: http://www.juncturecompany.com
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