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.
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