The Addiction of Power

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the quest for power in our society. Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” We need no more data to understand the character of Donald Trump, but the domestic terrorist event at our nation’s capital this past week put the abuse of power in a blinding light. I always, sadly, thought money ruled the world - but now I am convinced money is just a “gateway drug” to the real addiction, which is power. 

If you have power, others will try to take it away. I learned this first hand over the years, in my professional career. My assistant would explain it as “crabs in a bucket”. If one crab has the power to climb out of the bucket the other crabs will pull that crab back down. One of my key mentors, Ann Richards, the first female elected governor of Texas, would remind me of this concept frequently. When I shared a challenge or issue I was facing with her, she often boiled it down to the essence of the power dynamic within the issue. Her counsel was to not be surprised by others wanting the power I had - but rather, to assume and understand this behavior such that I could put the challenge into a “power” context and focus my energy on figuring out a solution. 

I met Ann Richards through my Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellowship. In this fellowship, we read the Ring of Gyges. In the story when the ring is twisted a person becomes invisible and can commit unjust acts. I believe all leaders wear the ring. The ring is power. It is their character that determines how they use it or abuse it. So, as this circle of logic closes, it’s really the character of the person that reveals their relationship with power. And, with Lincoln, and Trump, we will remember these leaders for their character, not their power. This seems like a good lesson for leaders at any level, in any organization.