The Main Thesis
The article Don’t Let Power Corrupt You studies the negative influence of power on a leader and discusses ways to combat this influence. Power is necessary to take responsibility and lead competently, but power offers leaders two traps: arrogance and self-centeredness, which negatively affect both the leader and the team. The article offers strategies for recognizing power traps to learn how to benefit from the position of power.
To combat the negative consequences of the influence of power on a person, the authors suggest two ways – the development of humility and empathy. Humility involves an accurate understanding of a person’s capabilities and disabilities. The first step to humility will recognize the possibility of being wrong and ignorant. No one knows the answers to all questions, so leaders should not be afraid to appear incompetent. In addition, it is necessary to give honest time to both the employees and the family. For leaders, it is important to know what worries employees – a channel of direct communication between management and subordinates is necessary. Moreover, to increase the level of humility, it should first be measured. The article’s authors suggest honestly asking colleagues and family how much the leader is capable of humility.
The position of power provides the ground for the development of egocentrism, which negatively affects the team’s work. To prevent this negative aspect, it is necessary to encourage and develop empathy. Empathy is developed by using collective pronouns and increasing a sense of community. The way to the wise use of power is to realize the importance of the work of each individual. Encouraging employees’ achievements and attention to their problems will affect the development of the leader’s mentality. Leaders must be able to immerse themselves in other people’s work. Getting to know employees at different levels is necessary to appreciate their contribution to the common cause. Acquaintance with someone else’s reality, empathy for colleagues, and understanding how diverse parts of the business are connected create conditions for breaking down egoism and expanding collaboration. Listening to the stories of others is a powerful alternative that also develops empathy. Companies can combat self-centeredness by creating an awareness of interdependence in their systems.
The article contains specific examples that make the thesis convincing. To support the thesis that power has a negative effect on the leader, the article authors cite physician Vera Cordeiro as an example. As personal development progressed, the woman began to pay more attention to developing her own company, and the family faded into the background (Battilana & Casciaro, 2021). The article’s authors mention the Microsoft corporation policy as an example of a strategy for developing humility and empathy in a leader. Microsoft removed ratings from the performance evaluation process, reorientating assessments towards cooperation (Battilana & Casciaro, 2021). As a result, the company has been able to achieve reduced levels of anxiety and improved performance.
The Significant and Future Discussion Perspectives
Although the article offers effective ways to counter the negative effects of power, it leaves room for further research. It would not be superfluous to mention strategies on how to help a loved one if he or she fell into one of the traps of power. In addition, it is necessary to develop a method for maintaining mental stability and productivity for employees working for an aggressive leader who has been seized by power.
Reference
Battilana, J. & Casciaro T. (2021). Don’t let power corrupt you: How to exercise influence without losing your moral compass. Harvard Business Review.