The Power Compass

Navigating Power with a Moral Compass

Power is intoxicating.

I am re-watching the West Wing and the last episode was about the State of the Union Address. The scene captures the president as he approaches the doors of Congress to deliver his speech. It is a heady moment:

The President addresses the Sergeant at Arms: "Mr. Finney, would you tell the Speaker I'd like to see him please?"

Mr. Finney: opens the doors to the Senate Chamber and yells: "Mr. Speaker, The President of the United States!"

You aren't the President, and the power you are struggling to attain, manage, and express are no where near his, but the principles that govern the use of power are no different.

Here are four principles to guide your power.

1. Power is rooted in truth not position
2. Power doesn't belong to you.
3. Power demands humility
4. Power is used to elevate others

Power is rooted in truth not position

When my kids were little, I used to use this power play: "Because I said so."

I am sure if you have kids, you have used that phrase. It has a very short shelf life, typically between the ages 2 & 3, for about three months. Then your little human demands more respect from you. You might not be able to explain every justification for every decision but you must begin to treat the human in your sphere with respect by communicating truth to them. There is where your real power lies.

In your work, the principle is the same, if not a bit more complex. Power does not ultimately reside in position, or posturing. "Because I said so" is never appropriate with adults, even "subordinate" adults.

Truth begins in the workplace with mission. Having clear direction that is universally and regularly communicated is an issue of truth. It is a statement about who we are. It moves to clarity about job descriptions and then holding people accountable for the agreements they make when taking on a job.

Power doesn't belong to you.

Whenever people have "owned" power, it has proved corrosive. If power rooted in truth is "true" north, power doesn't belong to you is its corresponding compass point. When power becomes about you it by definition ceases to become about truth. There may be some, even many, overlapping points, but the main motivation is not "truth" but personal aggrandizement.

A prophylactic to the abuse of power is to relinquish ownership of power. The ego is strong and power is capricious. When you relinquish ownership of power, you begin to protect yourself from the abuse of power.

I am always much more careful with someone else's valued possessions than I am with my own. This may be a poor practice on my part, but nonetheless, if I borrow your car I will take care of it more than I will my own. When you see power as being granted to you in trust, you will exercise it with more care and precision, and this will lessen its abuse.

Power demands humility

Every religious text exalts humility. Humility is universally acknowledged as a characteristic to be extolled and pursued. It really isn't necessary to appeal to religious texts to make this observation. It is innate. We are drawn to people who are humble, especially powerful people who are humble.

Truly powerful people don't need to trumpet to the world that they are powerful. This too is a prophylactic against the abuse of power.

Power is used to elevate others

There is nothing more fulfilling than to help others. When you use power to help others you will find something truly valuable. This is what you will be most proud of at the end of your life. It won't be the money, the property, the success, the limelight. It will be the people who love you because you empowered them by exercising your power to make them successful.

On Jan. 16, 1883, during a speech in Washington, D.C., by the prominent writer and orator Robert Ingersoll, these famous words were uttered about Abraham Lincoln:

“If you want to find out what a man is to the bottom, give him power. Any man can stand adversity — only a great man can stand prosperity. It is the glory of Abraham Lincoln that he never abused power only on the side of mercy. [Applause]. He was a perfectly honest man. When he had power, he used it in mercy …”

You might not be Abraham Lincoln, but his example works for any leader at any level.