Power has a funny way of changing us.
I’m not talking about personal power here. Personal power is important and you should always be conscious of it and how it shows up in your life. But that’s another topic.
I’m talking about the power to control.
It changes us because it puts us in a situation where we have different accountability.
Before gaining power our accountability is to those who are in charge. And while it can be stifling or demotivating, there is also an element of easiness to it. You can be the victim because you aren’t the governing body.
After we gain more power or become a governing body our accountability shifts to being responsible for the people with less power. I
In terms of status roles – before you gain power you are accountable to those with higher status or power, and they hold you to it.
After you gain power, you are accountable to those of lesser status or power – and they don’t have the authority to hold you to it.
Without authority holding us to a standard, we then have to be disciplined and humble enough to hold our own standard.
And if we haven’t worked on our discipline or learned the value of humility then power becomes corrupt – no matter how “nice” you are.
Vulnerability, humility, and a willingness to be wrong become ever more important with the more power you gain because now it’s not just about you – it’s about all of the people who your choices affect.
You can make a difference and change the world with more power – but you must be cognizant of the responsibility that comes with it.