"Does Power Corrupt?" asks Robert Sutton
Let's start off this week with another question from the LinkedIn Answers Q&A event, featuring questions on Startups and Small Businesses. Robert Sutton (View his blog) author of "No A**hole Rule" and Professor of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University, asked last week if power corrupts. Here's the question:
As people become more powerful, there's a tendency for bad behavior to surface. What suggestions do you have for leaders to avoid becoming a jerk in the face of rising pressure and demands?
Click here to check out over 350 answers we've received thus far to this question. Bob talks about some of the interesting answers in a couple of blog posts, which can be accessed here and here.
We took a spin through some of those answers and realized that a majority of them fall between; well, there were only two options here -- either "Yes" or "No", but we did find a slew of interesting responses from across the spectrum. Here they are:
Mohan Dutt | Oracle e-business suite evangelist
True leaders use power as a catalyst for innovation and change. They empower their team members and help them achieve stretch goals. Rising pressure and demands are today's world order and leadership is exhibited by those who are proactive and use their power efficiently. (See Mohan's other LinkedIn Answers)
Andrew Talbot | VP, Strategic Consulting at Epsilon
The non-jerks in power have generally been reluctant to serve. The best way to limit the jerks is to draft decent people into the roles who would never seek them. (see Andrew's other LinkedIn Answers)
Kevin Jackson | Principal, CSC Consulting
Power corrupts in many cases. This is why when we see that down-to-earth powerful person, we are in awe, that truly humble celebrity. Interestingly, power doesn't have to corrupt. One can be competent, without wielding power unabashed. (see Kevin's other LinkedIn Answers)
Don McClure | President, Digital Element, Inc.
Power can corrupt to the extent that it reduces the powerful person's reliance on other's acceptance, which decreases the social pressure that helps one to avoid temptation.
Chuck Stormon | VP, Strategy at Tekelec
I would say that it is not power that corrupts. Perhaps the bad behaviour or at least the predisposition for bad behavior is there all along, and only becomes apparent when influence and scrutiny grow along with power. (see Chuck's other LinkedIn Answers)
Jennifer (Ano) Cole | Project Coordinator at Nike
Power doesn't corrupt, rather it's society's treatment of power and how that power is used by the person wielding it. Getting used to 'giving in' to that feeling of entitlement (because you've attained a certain amount of power) is what transforms powerful people into massive jerks. (see Jennifer's other LinkedIn Answers)
Louis D'Esposito | Creative Director/President at Listen & Look
I do not think power in itself corrupts. Certain prerequisites such as a lack of humility, a lack of self-confidence and misanthropic tendencies all contribute to lead to power madness. What is truly interesting is how these people can transfer this state unto the population. (see Louis' other LinkedIn Answers)
Michael Seidenfrau | First Vice President, Wachovia Securities
Power often times does corrupt.
Those who have power should spend some time giving back to the community. Those who are giving of time (which is harder to do then give money) aren't jerks.
The way a powerful man or woman treats co workers and community members speaks volume about that person. Stop and think, if all this power left me when i wake up tomorrow, what would people think of me? If the answer is this guy is a jerk, it's time to start changing your image. (see Michael's other LinkedIn Answers)
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Robert Sutton's question is the second in our tech entrepreneurship LinkedIn Answers Q&A event. You may have either answered or perused the first question in that series from Barack Obama (which
has already garnered almost 1500 answers). Check it out here