How To Enhance Your Leadership with “Personal Power”
Dec 31, 2024
auto_awesome
Chris Lipp, a professor at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business and executive coach, shares his insights on harnessing 'personal power' in leadership. He distinguishes it from traditional authority, emphasizing control, agency, and action. Lipp discusses how openness and curiosity can empower individuals, especially from marginalized backgrounds, to reclaim their influence. He introduces the 'spotlight principle' to foster accountability and support within teams, showing how responsibility and effective communication enhance leadership presence.
Personal power stems from internal values and self-belief, allowing individuals to create impact beyond their formal authority in organizations.
Cultivating personal power involves recognizing one's sense of control and agency, ultimately fostering confidence and respect in professional environments.
Deep dives
Understanding Personal Power
Personal power is defined as the belief in one’s ability to create impact in various situations. Unlike formal power derived from position within an organization, personal power stems from internal capabilities and self-belief. Those who possess personal power recognize that their success correlates with their internal orientation, responding to internal signals rather than being swayed by external judgments. This mindset allows individuals to exude confidence, garner respect, and positively influence their work environment.
Cultivating Personal Power
Cultivating personal power involves three key foundations: a sense of control, a sense of agency, and a focus on action. Even in disempowering environments, individuals can reclaim control by recognizing their ability to respond to situations, thereby fostering a perception of personal power. Affirming one’s values rather than merely one’s capabilities can significantly boost one's sense of agency, especially in high-stakes situations like job interviews. Engaging in value reflection helps individuals focus on their own strengths, making them more compelling to others.
The Role of Assertiveness and Responsibility
Balancing assertiveness and a sense of responsibility is critical for exercising personal power effectively. Individuals who push for fairness, such as negotiating for just compensation, inadvertently showcase their strength and self-worth, which can lead to enhanced perceptions of power by others. By taking responsibility for mistakes, people communicate their control over circumstances, inviting respect and trust from peers and superiors alike. This dynamic creates a virtuous cycle where personal power and professional value are continually reinforced.
We all know the stereotypes of leaders who use charisma, manipulation, domineering behavior, or their status in the hierarchy to exert control. But there is another type of leader whose power isn’t necessarily related to their position on the org chart. Chris Lipp has spent years studying people who’ve developed this “personal power” that is rooted in their internal values. Lipp is a professor at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, an executive coach, and the author of the new book The Science of Personal Power. He’s investigated where this second type of power comes from, how it can enhance our lives, and how to tap into it using some simple strategies and tools.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode