BEING POWERFUL

What make us tremble and bow before certain men? What make people worship some leaders and blindly rally behind them?

The answer is considered obnoxious in the modern world and is deliberately replaced with cushy terms like influence and inspiration. Maybe that is how things are in a world where the masses are sensitive to strong opinions and everything is about political correctness, where media is drenched with influencers and self-proclaimed start-up magnates selling numbered secrets to success. But in such a world men like Steve Jobs and Jack Welch stand out as icons who possessed and effectively used a tool which is more than mere influence- it is called Power

Power is a dangerous tool simply because it is superior. As the saying goes “You don’t need a lever to remove a thorn”. Still power can be a handy tool in your arsenal when you want to solve difficult problems or completely change the game. Unfortunately Power is something you should create for yourself because those who possess it will never reveal their secrets.

From the following ingredients, you can forge the formidable weapon of Power- an Excalibur that only you can wield, a Vajrayudha precious as diamond and mighty as a thunderbolt.

1. Ambition

Ambition is different from a goal (long or short term). Let me explain. Your goals are time-bound milestones in your journey. They are clear to you and everyone around you. Even if you don’t tell anyone, they can figure it out from your actions or the results of those actions. Ambition, on the other hand, is a ridiculously big dream, selfish or selfless, which you intend to achieve one day (hopefully in your lifetime). Nobody has to see the big picture because it is inside your head. Only you can know how the individual goals fit into your ambition. It takes patience, perseverance and flexibility to achieve your ambition.

So what is your ambition? How do your goals fit into your ambition?

2. Commitment to yourself

Your greatest commitment should be to yourself. Understand the fact that all entities you encounter (your company, boss, co-worker, enemy, church, even your spouse, and parents) have their own selfish motive at some level. So being blindly loyal to someone or something often leads to a heartbreak. You are more likely to see through your enemies better because you have been told to keep them closer. I would advise you to not keep anyone too far or too close. This will strengthen you to say ‘No’ at the right time and despise free lunch.

Do not always reveal your true motives. When you deal with anyone think what is in it for them and ask yourself what is in it for you. Think how can you create a win-win situation so that you can move faster towards your goals.

3. Reputation

Be the master of your own image. Everybody has flaws in their personality. People might despise you for your flaws or even attack you at your weak point. So despite your strengths and weakness, choose what to show as your strength and vulnerability. It is important to show some vulnerability also because a perfect image will tempt your enemies to seek for your real weakness and they might succeed. Behave according to the reputation you crave for and not according to your instincts. This might not be as immoral as you think. You may have heard stories of great leaders who are kind and generous secretly but hold a reputation of being unemotional and ruthless. Build a reputation that coincides with your ambition.

What kind of reputation do you have? What kind of reputation will make your life easier? ?(Be careful here, there is no one size that fits all)

4. Be indispensable

We all know that Steve Jobs was never a programmer. Yet he was indispensable which Apple learned the hard way. So nourish skills that make you indispensable. Here is where passion plays the major role. You need passion to spend hours sharpening your skill. But being indispensable is not only about being good at something. It is equally or even more important to fit your skill in the bigger picture. Demonstrate how your skills are crucial for your team’s success.

What is your passion? How can you develop skills related to your passion? Where do your skills fit in? Remember, football can be your passion but skill set of a player is different from a team manager or coach.

5. Understand people

In the corporate world where I work in, people are called by different names like stakeholders, customers, employees, bosses and what not. They are classified and put into tabular columns and pie-charts. I’m not trying to say all this is wrong. But never make the mistake of forgetting the characteristics of the universal set: People. Remember The cornerstone of power lies in driving people to meet your motives. Do not misunderstand this as manipulation. Or maybe you can call this manipulation. It depends on your motive. Understand people you deal with on a daily basis and what drives them. Use this information to your advantage.

What drives people you deal with on a daily basis? What do you have in common? What are your differences? How can you use this information to your advantage?

6. Be formless

Many have fallen from the pinnacle of success into the abyss of oblivion because they were too stiff. In the game of power, what worked yesterday will not work tomorrow. The golden rule is that there is no rule. Adaptability is the most critical factor when it comes to staying in power. Be open to new knowledge and perspectives. Your senses should be open to the changes around you. Experience is a valuable tool but let it not cloud your judgment in the changed circumstances. Identify what has changed and what has not. Re-design yourself (and your team) to meet the change. Take calculated risks to seize the new opportunities. And even if you fail, you fail fast (maybe first) and you learn.

What are your methods to stay updated (Reading? Podcasts? Youtube Channels?) How do you find new methods to get updated? How can I adapt to the changes that I am most afraid of now?

This article serves only as a marquee displaying a new perspective on things you already know. Analyse your leadership skills under this ‘lens of power’ and let me know what you think in the response section.