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- Developing political skills and building power is important for career success, even if it makes people uncomfortable.
- The first power is to "get out of your own way" - don't let self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or worries about being liked hold you back.
- Breaking rules and conventions can help you stand out and be more successful, as long as you still do good work.
- Building a personal brand and increasing your visibility is crucial, but should be balanced with substance.
- Networking and building connections, even with "weak ties", provides access to valuable information and opportunities.
- Appearing and carrying yourself in a powerful way through body language, tone, and presence can increase your influence.
- Once you have power, people tend to forgive or forget how you obtained it, so the ends can sometimes justify the means.
- It's important to be open-minded and not too judgmental when learning these power skills, as they can lead to greater success.
- Doing the "power" assignments and exercises in the course, rather than just reading about it, is key to actually developing these skills.
- While power can be used for good, the speaker acknowledges the moral ambiguity and discomfort many feel around acquiring and wielding power.
Some takeaways:
- The 7 rules of power
- Get out of your own way.
- Break the rules.
- Show up in powerful fashion.
- Create a powerful brand.
- Network relentlessly.
- Use your power.
- Understand that once you have acquired power, what you did to get it will be forgiven, forgotten, or both.
- People often feel uncomfortable discussing or learning about power because it challenges their ideals of how the world should be. Power itself is neither inherently good nor bad; it’s how it’s used that matters. Just like a knife can be used by a surgeon to save lives or by a mugger to harm others, power can be wielded for positive or negative purposes.
- If you want to practice power, walk before you run. Don’t start with things that feel entirely out of character or too difficult. Just get a little out of your comfort zone and then expand your practice over time. For example, you could start by simply maintaining a little more eye contact.
- The first principle of networking is generosity. Good networkers ask: “What can I do for you?,” “How can I be helpful?,” “Who can I introduce you to?” When you network through generosity, it shouldn’t feel cringey.
- Skills like presenting, networking, and commanding a room are learned, not innate, and can be developed through practice and training. Avoid reading from notes, maintain eye contact, keep interactions brief, and use open body posture to appear confident and in control. Embrace the principle of gradual progression, pushing yourself just beyond your comfort zone without overwhelming yourself. Aim for a 15% stretch beyond what feels familiar but not unreachable.
Jeffrey Pfeffer outlines seven key attributes of power in his book "Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don't":
- Ambition - A strong desire to achieve success.
- Energy - High levels of activity and stamina.
- Focus - The ability to concentrate on important tasks and goals.
- Self-Knowledge - Understanding one's strengths and weaknesses.
- Confidence - Belief in one's abilities and decisions.
- Empathy with Power - Understanding how power works and how to use it.
- Capacity to Tolerate Conflict - Comfort with and ability to manage conflict.
