Last week we dissolved the stigma around personal power. And rightfully so. As this article about President Obama’s effective use of personal power argues, personal power makes us more effective in a number of ways.
The article shares some direct benefits of personal power:
- Personal power frees us to listen. In the absence of a perceived threat to our position, we are more free to listen to and accept the viewpoints of others without necessarily abandoning our own.
- Personal power increases clarity of thought. This may be because with greater confidence, we can focus more on the facts and impacts and less on repercussions and other external factors.
- Personal power increases creativity. If we perceive ourselves to be powerful, we are less likely to self-censor. More creative ideas seem more doable, and we feel less risk by suggesting something “outlandish.” The freedom to explore innovative ideas is key to growth personally and for our organizations.
- Personal power allows us to ignore bad advice. “Because the boss said so,” is no longer a sufficient argument. People who feel personally powerful value the opinions of those who have experience and know-how, but also value their own judgment.
Personal power is the driving force behind great change. Effective leaders have to possess it, because they have to believe in their own capability in order to succeed. The author of the article, Lee Dye, posits that President Obama’s personal power could be the deciding factor in the success of his administration. It’s still early to be branding our new President a success or not, but it’s not too early to see that his ambitious goals will require him to marshal all of his resources, including his personal power.
What is possible for you because of your personal power? How have you created change in your organization?
Related posts:
- Personal power: Power is not a four letter word
- The “What if?” factor
- Daily leadership: Incremental choice and relationship building
- Executive Brand: Personal branding goes big leagues
- Leadership through effective meetings
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