The Impact of Power

Blog > The Impact of Power 

I was reading this fascinating article from The Atlantic entitled Power Causes Brain Damage and it honestly had me shook.  The article discusses how people in power become unable to read (and therefore really connect to) other people.  This is one of my biggest fears as a leader.  While I was mildly aware of this while I was working as a program manager overseeing a team of about 25 individuals, it was only after I left that position that I really saw the truth of those relationships.

I was fortunate to be on good terms with my entire team; and I knew that once I left, that I wouldn’t be very closely connected with all of them, but I was ill prepared for the reality I faced: people dropped me like a rock.  Not everyone, but the ones I would least expect.  I was surprised to learn that it was the people who were kindest to me while I was their boss who stopped reaching out after.  Had I been that blind?  I worked really hard to prevent a culture of “brown nosers”, instead I focused on treating people as equally and as fairly as I could conceive.  I applied rules, expectations, and support equally across the board.  I knew of course that not everyone would be my number one fan, but I thought I had formed a strong bond with some of my reports, whom I genuinely considered to be colleagues and even friends.  However, it turned out that I misread those relationships.

My internal musings were reflected in my personal quiet time this morning where I read a story of King Rehoboam of Israel in 1 Kings 12: 3-16.  I appreciated the solutions that the below text offers

Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 “Your father made our yoke [a]heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5 So he said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.” And the people departed.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, (Solution One: Consult those who know what they are doing.  Find experienced, trusted, and loyal people.  The Atlantic article speaks of a “toe-holder”, someone whom you trust, knows you, and isn’t afraid to keep you in check) and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”

7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” (Solution Two: Servant Leadership.  Meet the needs of your followers/subordinates in practical ways and use those means to build lasting loyalty.)

8 But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9 And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! 11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with [b]scourges!’ ”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me the third day.” 13 Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him; 14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” (This is such a brutal response!  So brutal that we may be tempted to dismiss it and claim that we ourselves could never say such things.  But let me ask you, have you ever thought to yourself in a moment of frustration “I just need them to do exactly what I say!  No more questions, no more challenges, nothing but obedience.”?  If so, then I think this is step one to becoming disconnected from your people.  And it’s certainly the first step to a love of power.) 15 So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the Lord, that He might fulfill His word, which the Lord had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying:

“What share have we in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
To your tents, O Israel!
Now, see to your own house, O David!”

So Israel departed to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of the revenue; but all Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. (And here we read the consequences of the king’s harsh words: disobedience and rebellion.  Not only did he fail to win over his people, but he pushed them away.  His threatening words fell on deaf ears despite his power and authority.  A leader is only a leader when others say so.  Once people decide you are not in charge, then you are not in charge, no matter what title you hold.)

I’m so eager to know if there’s anything else that can be done to keep a leader connected to their people.  How do you keep yourself in check?

Blog > The Impact of Power