Power draws people to you
Think people follow your lead because they like you?
Sorry, not really.
In Power: Why Some People Have It—and Others Don’t, Jeffrey Pfeffer says we are naturally pulled toward people who:
Control resources
Have influence over outcomes
Are seen as “going somewhere”
Power is gravity.
Most of us focus on being nice, likable, easy to work with. All fine traits, but let’s be honest, none of them, on their own, create influence.
I know plenty of people who are well-liked and overlooked.
You don’t have to wait for power.
You can build a power base right now—where you sit, with what you have, right now.
(And also, you can have power without being a jerk).
You can:
Control something that matters – Because power flows to relevance, take ownership of a project, process, or information others depend on
Become visible in the right places – Because people can’t support what they don’t see, speak up in meetings that matter, not just the safe ones
Build a network, not just relationships – Because power grows through others, not in isolation, connect across teams, levels, and functions
Frame your work in terms of impact – Because influence follows perceived value, don’t just do the job, show how it affects results
Communicate with confidence (even before you feel it) – Because confidence is often read as capability, people infer competence from how you carry yourself.
When you build power:
People seek you out
Your ideas get more airtime
Your influence compounds
Not because you became more charming, but because you became more relevant.
Don’t wait to be given power. Start building it, right where you are, now, with what you have.
✅ Put the 2 Minute Tip into action…Become More Influential & Build A Culture Of Open Communication in our supportive online community ✅
