The paths to power: How to grow your influence and advance your career | Jeffrey Pfeffer (Stanford)

Why is understanding power important for career success?

Understanding power is crucial for achieving positive outcomes in your career. Power ensures higher salaries, promotions, job satisfaction, and reduced stress. Gerald Ferris's empirical research on political skill highlights that those adept in these skills often find themselves benefiting in multiple aspects of their professional lives.

Political skill encompasses the ability to read social cues, navigate complex environments, and influence organizational dynamics to one's advantage. Professionals who master these skills see significant career advancements. They secure better opportunities and positional authority, leading to increased job satisfaction and reduced stress levels.

Moreover, understanding power dynamics helps in building stronger relationships within an organization. It places you in a better position to influence decision-makers, align yourself with the organization's goals, and efficiently manage your career path. Power, therefore, isn't just about authority. It's a tool for building a fulfilling and successful career.

Incorporating these insights into your career strategy provides a structured approach to achieving career success. Power, when understood and wielded effectively, can transform your professional journey, ensuring that you reach your desired milestones and thrive in your work environment.

What are the Seven Rules of Power?

1. Get out of your own way

   • Overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Believe in your skills and qualifications without constant apologies. This mindset shift is crucial for showcasing your strengths effectively.

2. Break the rules

   • Stand out by doing things differently. Disrupt the status quo and challenge conventional wisdom. Asking for what you want and taking bold actions sets you apart from the crowd.

3. Show up in a powerful fashion

   • Appear confident and authoritative. Use eye contact, open body posture, and a loud, clear voice. Avoid reading from notes to maintain direct engagement.

4. Build a powerful brand

   • Create a unique and memorable personal brand through writing, speaking, and strategic networking. Ensure people recognize and remember your contributions and expertise.

5. Network relentlessly

   • Establish a broad network by being generous and connecting others. Attend events, host dinners, and pursue weak ties. A wide network increases opportunities and influence.

6. Use your power

   • Leverage your power to accomplish tasks and achieve goals. Mobilize resources effectively to build a track record of success, thus attracting more opportunities and influence.

7. Success excuses almost everything

   • Once you've achieved success, how you got there is often overlooked or forgiven. Focus on reaching your goals, and the journey will be less scrutinized. Historical examples show that power tends to eclipse past actions.

How can you build a powerful personal brand?

Building a personal brand requires strategic efforts and diverse approaches. Here are various strategies to help you stand out:

• Writing and Blogging: Share your expertise through articles and blog posts. This establishes you as a thought leader in your field. Consistent, high-quality content can attract a loyal audience.

• Podcasting: Start a podcast to discuss industry trends, interview experts, and share insights. Podcasting helps reach a broad audience and can significantly enhance your professional visibility.

• Networking Dinners: Host dinners or small events to connect personally with influential people. These intimate settings allow for deeper connections and foster long-lasting relationships.

• Dressing Strategically: Your appearance matters. Dress in a way that aligns with your brand identity. Laura Chow, for example, wears distinctive heels and stylish attire to enhance her professional image.

• Social Media Presence: Actively engage on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. Share your thoughts, accomplishments, and relevant content to keep your network informed and engaged.

• Public Speaking: Participate in conferences, webinars, and panels. Public speaking positions you as an authority and helps build your brand credibility.

Following these strategies will help in effectively building and maintaining a strong personal brand, ensuring that your skills and contributions are recognized. For more tips on gaining confidence and advancing professionally, visit our article on how to build radical confidence.

What does it mean to get out of your own way?

Getting out of your own way means overcoming internal barriers that prevent you from achieving your full potential. It involves addressing discomfort with power and imposter syndrome. Here are practical steps to help you move forward:

• Overcoming Discomfort with Power: Many people find the concept of power uncomfortable. Recognize that power can lead to greater salary, promotions, and career satisfaction. It's not inherently dirty or immoral.

• Combating Imposter Syndrome: Imposter syndrome makes you doubt your achievements. Believe in your qualifications and understand that you're not an admissions or hiring mistake.

• Avoid Preemptory Apologies: Stop apologizing before you even present your ideas. Phrases like "I don't know if this will be useful" undermine your confidence. Speak assertively and trust in the value you bring.

Employ these strategies to boost your confidence. For additional advice on finding success by focusing on your journey and overcoming hurdles, check out our article on how stoicism can transform your life.

Why is breaking the rules beneficial for gaining power?

Breaking the rules can significantly enhance your ability to stand out and disrupt the status quo. Doing something unexpected makes you memorable, a crucial factor in building influence at work.

Conventional wisdom often favors those who established the rules, which means adhering strictly to them can limit your growth. By challenging norms, you position yourself as a disruptor, someone willing to innovate and take risks.

Take Jason Calacanis as an example. He defied traditional venture capital practices by making numerous small bets instead of a few large ones. This strategy set him apart, proving that bold moves often lead to remarkable success. His journey from journalism to becoming a highly influential venture capitalist exemplifies the power of breaking the rules.

Asking for what you want also breaks conventional norms. Many people hesitate to ask for fear of rejection, yet asking often brings unexpected rewards. The most successful individuals understand this principle and are not afraid to push boundaries.

Rigid adherence to rules may keep you safe, but it won't set you apart. By breaking the rules in a strategic manner, you can better influence decision makers, make a lasting impression, and accelerate your career advancement.

How can you network relentlessly without feeling cringey?

• Focus on Generosity: Offer to help others first. This sets a positive tone and builds genuine connections. Think about who you can introduce them to or what resources you can share.

• Host Networking Events: Create intimate settings like dinners or small gatherings. These less formal environments allow deeper connections, making networking feel more natural.

• Connect Beneficially: Act as a conduit between people who could benefit from knowing each other. This not only helps them but also positions you as a central and helpful figure in your network.

• Pursue Weak Ties: Engage with acquaintances rather than close friends. Weak ties are often sources of new opportunities and diverse perspectives.

• Be Authentic: Approach networking with sincerity. Authentic interactions are more rewarding and less likely to feel forced or uncomfortable.

For more tips on engaging conversation strategies, explore how to break the cycle of small talk.

What are the benefits of using your power?

Using your power can significantly propel your career forward. It opens doors to new opportunities and resources that might otherwise remain out of reach. When you mobilize resources effectively, you not only achieve your goals but also build a track record of success.

Power has a self-perpetuating nature. The more you use it to accomplish tasks, the more likely you are to attract additional opportunities and resources. Colleagues and decision-makers prefer to align themselves with success. Thus, demonstrating your ability to wield power effectively makes you an attractive collaborator.

To capitalize on this dynamic, always seek to mobilize your resources strategically. Whether it’s leveraging your network, securing funding, or leading a high-impact project, every successful use of power reinforces your position of influence and opens up even more avenues for career advancement.

How does showing up in a powerful fashion impact your influence?

• Maintain Eye Contact: Establishes connection and shows confidence. Strong eye contact keeps the audience engaged and signals trustworthiness.

• Use Open Body Posture: An open stance exudes confidence and approachability. Avoid crossing your arms as it can appear defensive.

• Speak Loudly and Clearly: A powerful voice grabs attention. Speaking loudly, clearly, and without hesitation shows dominance and assurance.

• Avoid Reading from Notes: Demonstrates mastery of the material. Engages the audience better and allows for more effective eye contact.

• Master Your Body Language: Small gestures and posture adjustments can make a big difference. Body language often has a greater impact than your words.

• Incorporate Gestures: Using hand movements and facial expressions can emphasize points and make you more relatable and dynamic.

• Show Humor: Incorporating laughter and appropriate humor can make you more likable and humanize your presence.

Applying these techniques enhances your presence and helps you build influence at work. The right body language and presentation style can significantly boost your perceived power and effectiveness.

Why will people forget how you acquired power?

Once you have power, the methods you used to get there are often overlooked or forgiven. This phenomenon occurs because people tend to focus on your current status and influence rather than the steps you took to achieve it.

Take Lindsey Graham, for example. Initially, he was a vocal critic of Donald Trump, but later became one of his staunchest supporters. Despite this drastic switch, his actions were largely forgiven due to his alignment with the prevailing power.

Similarly, Martha Stewart's imprisonment for insider trading could have tanked her career. Instead, she bounced back stronger, with her brand thriving post-incarceration. Her success essentially overshadowed her past missteps.

The concept here is clear: success can eclipse previous actions. Once you've reached a position of power, people are more interested in your current influence and achievements. Historical transgressions fade into the background, replaced by your present authority and success.

This principle highlights why focusing on your goals and achieving success can mitigate the scrutiny of your journey. Power, once attained, tends to overshadow the methods employed to reach it.