A Most Pervasive Element – Use Power Wisely!

It helps to recognize that power is – like the air we breathe – everywhere. Understanding the sources or forms of power available to you is useful. Sometimes you have power over others.  Other times you power with others.  Sometimes you must display power despite others.  And, ideally, you want to express power through others.

Power used for good can launch an important initiative, fire up a struggling team, inspire people to greatness, lobby resources for a cause, mobilize people and equipment and make the impossible possible.  Power used for bad purposes can destroy, demotivate, demoralize, devastate, decimate and dictate the unthinkable.     

You might enjoy reading Robert Green’s book “The 48 Laws of Power.”  

For this reason, Use Power Wisely! is Rich’s Rule # 8.

Points of Consideration 

Sometimes you have power over others

The Power that you have OVER others is likely to come from title, status or position.  Your position as a leader most likely provides you with another form of power – leverage – provided by your organization’s policy and procedures.  When you have power over others it’s important not to let it go to your head.  Power mixed with a lack of empathy can make you seem like a tyrant, and your followers may feel enslaved. If this happens, they may revolt or attempt to undermine your efforts covertly.    

Sometimes you have power with others

The two-way street of influence that comes with trusting relationships allows you to “share” power with others in ways that are mutually beneficial. You and the other person enable or assist each other in certain beneficial ways. You also have power with others when people have the desire and willingness to follow you because of your integrity and credibility.  

You can best amplify your power through others  

If you’re not a control freak, and your employees’ efforts fall between acceptable and amazing, you stand a chance of succeeding with one of the biggest assets a leader has – power through others. This power is expressed as followers successfully accomplish the work you’ve delegated to them.