about power and influence

Power in the world is gained and maintained by the "focus on others". This is valid and important. This is part of the "power paradox" which defines us when a balance is achieved in our lives.

This balance is between a gratification of our own desires and our focus on other people.

We must lern to enjoy the deeper delights that make a lasting impression in our environment. A thoughtful practitioner of good social practices will not be misled by the path of power made by self-gratification and abuse.

Social Practices are Four-Fold

• empathizing

• giving

• expressing gratitude

•  telling stories 

All four of these practices dignify and delight others. They constitute the basis of strong, mutually empowered ties. You can lean on them to enhance your power at any moment of the day by stirring others to effective action.

Power has become a word that includes a collection of behaviors, states, emotions, and phenomena.  

Our influence is only as good as what others think of us. Having enduring power depends on other people continuing to give it to us. Think that power is given to us rather than grabbed. Gain power by acting in ways that improve the lives of other people in our social networks. 

How we handle the power paradox guides our personal and work lives and determines, ultimately, how happy we and the people we care about will be. It determines our empathy, generosity, civility, innovation, intellectual rigor, and the collaborative strength of our communities and social networks.

We rise in power and make a difference in the world due to what is best about human nature, but we fall from power due to what is worst.

 Source for this post: How We Gain and Lose Influence