Introducing: 97% Effective!

Welcome back to The Power Coach, the bi-weekly newsletter that skips “happy talk” and helps leaders ascend, one Hard Truth at a time.?

If this is our first time meeting, you can learn a little about me and the work I do by clicking here .

I wasn’t always interested in power. In fact, I was largely unaware of power – and dismissed it. Like most of us, I believed that if someone worked hard, got good results, and kept their head down, they would rise based on their merit. Then I got a call from a friend. He was going to be fired. I was shocked. My friend – who I thought was a shoo-in for the C-Suite – embodied all the traits we want to see in our leaders: he was smart, hard-working, humble, a team-player, a top performer. But my friend had been ousted in a “power play,” a victim of “office politics” that he had largely ignored. He suffered, as did his team. It was devastating. How did a bad thing happen to such a great person??

I was furious. But I was also curious.?

I plunged into reading research. What most helped people rise and survive in organizations – and accelerated their careers? It all came back to two central concepts: power and influence. Once my eyes were opened, I began to see patterns everywhere. I saw lots of great people getting sidelined, not making the impact they sought. Instead, I saw narcissists rising, writing the rules. Often they ran their organizations into the ground, but still did great for themselves. They had one thing the good people didn’t: a mastery of power, influence and politics.?

I asked myself: Could good people get ahead by mastering these areas without becoming those people they so despised, or feeling like they were selling their souls in the process? How could I help?

I made navigating power and politics the focus of my executive coaching practice. I started to lead groups and workshops. I wrote articles in the Harvard Business Review and Forbes . After helping thousands of diverse, global leaders make huge headway, I even wrote a book to distill and share those lessons.?

Now, I want to spread my message even further with my new podcast.

Let’s Cut to the Chase?

On 97% Effective , I sit down with expert guests to candidly discuss my favorite topic: what really works to get ahead at work. Ranging from academic thought leaders to coaches to executives, my guests and I not only give you research-based truths about power, we also talk about how to put techniques into practice to help you accelerate your career and amplify your impact

Just like the rest of my work, what we talk about won’t always be easy to hear. The realities about what really works to rise in an organization are going to challenge your way of thinking. I want to confront much of the conventional wisdom you’ve probably been told, advice that pervades the leadership industry and floods the internet. On 97% Effective , we address uncomfortable truths head-on.?

Season #1 focuses on Power and Influence, those two critical (and very misunderstood) forces that help you rise. As a sneak peek, some of the exciting guests you’ll hear from:

• Academic thought leaders Jeffrey Pfeffer at Stanford and Peter Belmi at the University of Virginia. Jeff speaks about his new book, 7 Rules of Power , and Peter shares how we can overcome our self-limiting beliefs, ones that can unintentionally hold us back and perpetuate existing power structures. I’m deeply honored to kickoff 97% Effective with Jeff; I’ve had the immense privilege to coach for years in his top-ranked Stanford Executive Education course on power, and have benefited immensely from his scholarship, views and advice.
• CEOs and Catalysts L Bonita Patterson , Camiel Gielkens , Rebecca Lovell , and Dr. Kevin Williams . Bonita focuses on the most difficult skills to master: managing emotion, conflict, and how to communicate under fire. Camiel candidly shares his path through Europe and China that took him to the C-Suite, and how reframing power has dramatically amplified his impact. Rebecca addresses networking and branding, which have helped her and her clients become invaluable “Mainstays” of the Seattle startup scene. Dr. Kevin reveals what most people get wrong about career transitions.
• Top Coaches, Trainers and Speakers Chris Fenning , Alison Temperley , Dr. John J. Schaffner , and Alex D. Tremble . Chris walks us through The First Minute , showing how to structure communication concisely so it gets results. Alison shares how women can thrive in professional service firms, highlighting vital career-management strategies in Inside Knowledge . Dr. John gets passionate about what millennials and centennials most need at work, distilling lessons learned from directing the coaching program at Ohio State and serving as Core Coaching Facilitator at Columbia University. Alex opens up about his spectacular ascent in the US government, and lessons on “political savvy” that he imparts as an award-winning speaker.

If you’re feeling frustrated that you are not getting ahead at work - or seeking that extra edge as you move to the next level - this podcast is for you.

Let’s talk about it

This week, I want to hear from you.

What guests and topics would you like to see covered on 97% Effective??

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.?

Are you ready to start building power on your own terms? Tune in. (Click “Subscribe” to subscribe wherever podcasts are available).

Powerfully yours,

Michael Wenderoth?

I help leaders ethically leverage power and politics to ascend.

Are you ready to ASCEND? Make sure you never miss an issue by clicking the "Subscribe" button in the upper right corner of the page. For more tools, tips, and insights, connect with me here !

Click here to download the first chapters of my new book, Get Promoted: What You’re REALLY Missing At Work That’s Holding You Back!?

While you’re there, check out articles I’ve written for HBR and Forbes and benefit from my videos and other free resources!