Make a Power Play: Stand Out and Break Some Rules

Posted on August 9th, 2011 by Keith Ferrazzi

Today's post is an RMA Master's Mission. I hope you enjoy it.-KF

In order to get power, people must act as if they have power, whether they feel it or not. Authority is 20 percent given, 80 percent taken. “People often don’t ask for what they want and are afraid of standing out too much because they worry that others may resent or dislike their behavior, seeing them as self-promoting,” writes author Dr. Jeffrey Pfeffer. “You need to get over the idea that you need to be liked by everybody and that likeability is important in creating a path to power, and you need to be willing to put yourself forward. If you don’t, who will?”

Pfeffer cites the best-selling author of The Four-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss, who has made an art out of being memorable. Ferriss basks in the outrageous, using provocative language to make counter-intuitive claims, always looking for an opportunity to raise his visibility. A new best-selling book, invites to keynote the most prestigious conferences, and an army of blog followers speak to the impressive results.

That's why Pfeffer counsels prospective power brokers to speak up, make demands, and learn to stand out. Write for the company blog or magazine; organize a social or philanthropic event, advocate for some kind of workplace change. Your Mission: get noticed!

What have you done or plan to do to stand out from the crowd?

Mission Adapted from: Dr. Jeffrey Pfeffer's Power: Why Some People Have It - And Others Don't

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9 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. Hi Keith,

    Trying to promote The Green Spa and Wellness Center (www.greenspany.com) , where I practice hypnotherapy, I had to figure out how to get the word out without a budget. Inspired by videos from youtube, I organized a flashmob that a local dance school teacher (Jen Abaad) choreographed-
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0omfAIbRzQ

    I hope you enjoy it! We had 88 dancers show up and a lot of local excitement in Brooklyn!

    Thanks Keith!

    Tim Seitz, The Happy Hypnotist
    917-843-2497

  2. Always!

    But what is power? And what is authority? This answer lays in the mirror and your in it should you decide. The will to determine is powerful but who is it I may determine for?

    Today’s examples of power and authority are false in every degree because there is no such thing as authority over others, this is simply self generated in the mind and some should flat get over it.

    I have the will to decide, it is my will and no one else’s and is my unalienable right, it is the force I was endowed with and is what makes me equal among all others and by observation alone is self-evident.

    So power to me is simply my will to accomplish what I set out to that brings better experiences to those around me, to be accomplished or happy by my pursuits to all others. To shine by example of things done verses the pretty words one can express. Authority could be expressed best by what works well for the living which really means the doing that promotes my very existence in the first place. No ideas can have authority without the activity of making them so and putting them on display to answer any and all questions about such an example. To be certain and confident in self and my actions validates my actions as genuine in nature when nature is preserved and not until then.

    If you want to stand out accomplish on a grand scale what so many are unwilling to accomplish and you shall lead by great example. Those miss informing us have lost their way and have produced nothing of relevance to ourselves.

    BOLDLY GO WHERE SO FEW ARE WILLING BY MY WILL TO DECIDE AS WELL TO ACT AND LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE!

  3. How does not being liked mesh with the idea that people work with people they "know, like, and trust?" All things being equal, people generally prefer to work with someone they like. All things not being equal, people still prefer to work with someone they like.

    • On the RMA Social Capitalist call with Jeffrey, he emphasized that his intention isn't really to throw likeability out the window. His perspective is that too many people "aim to please" above all else, and need a kick in the pants to be reminded that a little audacity can go a long way. As well, likeability isn't only about trying to make others happy - strength of convictions, for example, isn't focused on getting liked, but can have that end result if people respect you.

  4. Indeed. I admire those with "testicular fortitude" to stand for values they believe is right and best for the organization as a whole.

  5. ...on second thought, there are those who "bend rules" for no good reason at all. Those who "take 80% of the power" without examining why.

    There are those who feel the need to express their individual beliefs despite its lack of relevance to their organization as a whole. Does your "visibility" bring your entire organization closer to its mission and is it consistent with the stated values?

    When the motivation for "speaking out" has more to do with the speaker's ego than to provide an important and thought-provoking perspective, it can be a waste of energy and attention. Choosing when to speak out and considering why you feel the need to speak out is a lesson I continue to learn as I mature.

    To adamantly and boldly express individuality for the sake of self-expression at the cost of disrupting and possibly offending an accepted norm within an organization to which you belong (vs. making a decent point that may be beneficial to most) often seems like a petty continuation of the 'high school' mentality.

    Save your effort and become "visible" by ruffling feathers when and where it counts and when your position is so important, you're willing to alienate some people who are your allies.

    Trust me. It isn't easy to be "unpopular" even when you are standing for something important.

  6. It goes back a few years, but I was working for a large software company and saw what a horrible job they were doing with their largest customer, GE. I asked for the account. They did not say no, so I took it. Created my own job title.

    I was hugely successful - revenue jumped by 224% in just 12 months. But I did stir up some bad blood.

    Jeff

  7. Well an excellent book have read it 5 times already, I also visited Dr. Jeffrey Pfeffer seminar in Saudi Arabia & I can remember the standing ovation was given to him in a packed 5000 audience.
    Dr. Jeffrey Pfeffer Is Stanford's top business professor.

    Thanks,
    Adil

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