Book SummaryPower, by Jeffrey Pfeffer

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Power

In Power, management expert and business professor Jeffrey Pfeffer explores the nature of power and explains how you can gain and use it effectively. He says power is an essential part...

Power Summary What Power Is and Why You Need It

In simple terms, Pfeffer says that power is the ability to control the world around you. Having power means being able to influence others, distribute resources as you see fit, make important decisions, and ultimately get what you want.

(Shortform note: Pfeffer is using the sociological definition of power, which simply means the ability to influence the lives of others. People can exercise their power in various ways. For instance, a manager or elected leader usually exerts power through authority, while an influencer or pundit might use manipulation, and a despot or an abusive partner often uses force.)

He adds that, while power can help you achieve your personal goals, it’s also key to improving and prolonging your life. This is because having a sense of control over your surroundings makes you healthier and happier. Conversely, a lack of control over your environment makes you feel vulnerable and anxious. That constant feeling of stress, in turn, harms you both physically and mentally.

(Shortform note: Happiness being linked to a sense of control is part of [Self-Determination Theory...

Power Summary Becoming a Powerful Person

Now that you understand Pfeffer’s ideas about what power is and why it’s important, let’s explore how to become powerful. The author says that nearly all powerful people share three crucial traits that help them to build and retain their influence: They’re determined, confident, and charismatic.

Powerful People Are Determined

First of all, the author notes that building power isn’t easy—it takes hard work, sacrifice, and a relentless desire to achieve your goals. This is because you’ll be in constant competition with the people around you, many of whom also want to build their power and influence.

Therefore, if you’re not fully committed to becoming powerful, you will fail to do so. Whether you’re trying to gain power in politics, the business world, or at your local sports club, you need to have the energy and motivation to overcome obstacles and gain influence among your peers.

Becoming Powerful Requires Absolute Certainty About Your Goals

Felix Dennis gives a similar warning in How to Get Rich, though he specifically talks about pursuing wealth...

Power Summary Building a Powerful Career

We’ve gone over how powerful people think and act. Now let’s discuss how people build up their power by choosing the right career path and then excelling in it.

In this section we’ll discuss how to find the right starting point for your career, how to advance in your career by standing out from your peers, and how to increase your power through effective networking.

Finding Your Starting Point

When it comes to having a successful career in which you can gain power quickly and consistently, making an informed decision on where to begin is vital.

First of all, whether you’re just beginning your career or moving to a different company, Pfeffer says you should try to join the most powerful department within that organization. He also recommends looking at a few factors to determine which department holds the most sway in any given company:

Starting salary: Companies pay proportionately to how important they consider positions to be. So, if the salary for an entry-level job is higher for one department over another, the company is showing you which department it values more.

Location: The closer a department is to the people at the top of the company, the better....

Power Summary The Drawbacks of Power

Though obtaining power is good for you and your career, there are significant downsides to power, says Pfeffer. He argues that the positives of power outweigh the negatives, but you should still be aware of the potential price you may have to pay when seeking power. We’ll go over three major drawbacks of power: You’re always in the spotlight, you don’t know who you can trust, and you may become obsessed with gaining more and more power.

Drawback #1: Unwanted Attention

When you hold a high-level position, your words and actions will be watched carefully at all times. The author warns that if you hold a lot of power, every aspect of your public and private life will be studied and criticized, not just your job performance. For example, many people now have strong opinions about billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk that have nothing to do with his career, such as criticizing his politics and his relationships with his children.

Though this constant scrutiny can help motivate some people to always do their best work, it can also be extremely stressful and distracting, making it difficult to perform to the best of your ability. So, if you seek power, you need to be...

Shortform Exercise: Why and How Will You Become Powerful?

Now that you’re familiar with Pfeffer’s ideas about power—why you need it and how to build it—consider how those principles apply to your life.

Why do you want to become powerful? To think about it a different way: What would you do with that power?