I recently listened to an episode of Lenny’s podcast featuring the distinguished professor and author Jeffrey Pfeffer. Before this episode, I was unfamiliar with Jeffrey, but I quickly realized it was a significant oversight.
The discussion centered around Pfeffer’s latest book, “7 Rules of Power.” I found myself increasingly conflicted as the conversation progressed. Let me list the rules to make it more clearer:
- Get out of your own way.
- Break the rules.
- Show up in a 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.
At one point, Lenny echoed my own sentiments, saying, “I think here people might be hearing this and they’re like, I don’t want to be this person. I don’t want to be talking all the time. I don’t want to be pretending like open posture. Is the advice here just you don’t need to do all these things.” This question encapsulated the internal conflict I was experiencing.
Pfeffer’s response was both insightful and unsettling. He shared that people typically navigate through four stages when confronted with such teachings: denial, anger, sadness, and acceptance. He explained, “When they get angry at me, how can you teach us this stuff? Then they’ll go into sadness. I actually believe this and I’m depressed. And if we’re successful, they will go through acceptance.”
Personally, I find myself hovering between stages 2 and 3 — anger and sadness. I know human nature, but these teachings clash with my values. While I acknowledge that adhering to these rules can make life easier, I’m troubled by the notion of promoting such principles.
This discomfort stems from a deeper conviction that life lessons should be imparted differently. Everyone seems to learn these harsh truths through personal trials and tribulations. Perhaps our families or society at large should bear the responsibility of teaching us how to navigate the complexities of life. Or, if we collectively believe these power dynamics are flawed, shouldn’t we strive to construct systems that foster fairness and justice?
In conclusion, while Jeffrey Pfeffer’s 7 Rules of Power offers a pragmatic roadmap to gaining power, it also raises critical ethical questions for me personally. I hope that as humankind continues to evolve, we will strive to be better than that. My wish is for a future where power is wielded with integrity, empathy, and a genuine commitment to fairness and justice.
Podcast link: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-paths-to-power-jeffrey-pfeffer