Lenny's PodcastThe paths to power: How to grow your influence and advance your career | Jeffrey Pfeffer (Stanford)
At a glance
WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT
Seven surprising power rules to accelerate your career and impact
- Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer explains that power is a neutral tool strongly correlated with higher salary, promotions, happiness at work, and lower stress, and that more "good people" need power if we want power used for good.
- He walks through his Seven Rules of Power—getting out of your own way, breaking rules, appearing powerful, building a brand, networking relentlessly, using power, and recognizing that success forgives most behavior—arguing these are learnable skills, not fixed personality traits.
- Much of the discomfort people feel about power comes from moral narratives that don’t match how the world actually works; Pfeffer emphasizes realism over idealism, urging listeners to suspend judgment, focus on getting things done through others, and practice these skills through deliberate exercises.
- He also highlights the tradeoffs of power—especially loss of autonomy and scrutiny—and suggests people consciously choose how much power they want, then systematically build the skills and support (coaches, networks, personal boards) to reach that level.
IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING
5 ideasTreat power as a neutral tool, not inherently good or bad.
Like a hammer or a knife, power can harm or heal; if you want power used for good, more ethical, well‑intentioned people must be willing to gain and wield it rather than opting out on moral grounds.
Get out of your own way by dropping self‑limiting beliefs and apologetic behavior.
Seeing power as "dirty," suffering from imposter syndrome, and constantly apologizing or downplaying your contributions all leak a lack of confidence; others then mirror that assessment, limiting your opportunities and influence.
Deliberately build a personal brand so decision‑makers actually know you exist.
There are fewer roles at the top, and no one can promote or fund you if they don’t know who you are; differentiating yourself through content, visible projects, distinctive style, and clear positioning makes you memorable and selectable.
Network relentlessly with a spirit of generosity and become a connector.
Effective networking is about helping others—sharing opportunities, introductions, and ideas—which requires knowing many diverse people; being the broker who links people and resources increases your information advantage, reputation, and power.
Practice acting powerful: presence, body language, and speech are learnable skills.
People respond more to how you look and sound than to your exact words; eye contact, speaking without notes, open posture, confident volume, appropriate touch, and even humor can all be practiced to project authority and gain trust.
WORDS WORTH SAVING
5 quotesIf you want power to be used for good, more good people need to have power.
— Jeffrey Pfeffer
You are hired to get a job done, not to be liked. If you want to be liked, get a dog.
— Jeffrey Pfeffer (quoting Gary Loveman)
No one is going to promote you if they don’t know who the hell you are.
— Jeffrey Pfeffer
These are not personality traits; these are skills that can be mastered.
— Jeffrey Pfeffer
You can have power or you can have autonomy, but you cannot have both.
— Jeffrey Pfeffer (quoting James G. March)
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