Professor of Organizational Behavior, Stanford GSB
2025
Why This Matters
Power Leads to Everything
"Political skill is associated with salary, getting promoted, being happy in your career, being happy in your job, being less stressed."
Power is not dirty—it's a neutral tool
The problem isn't power; it's how power has been used
Those with disadvantages need power skills most
Power is learnable; it's not about personality
Framework
The Seven Rules of Power
Rule 7Success excuses almost everything
These are skills, not personality traits
Everyone can learn and master them
Each rule builds on the previous one
Power multiplies when you use it—it's self-perpetuating
Do your "Doing Power" project: apply one rule in practice this quarter
The core truthThese realities of power bear little resemblance to Sunday school teachings, but they bear a lot of resemblance to how the world actually works.
Build Your Brand
Become Known & Differentiated
The math: Fewer positions at top → you must get promoted → nobody promotes people they don't know
The execution: Do something that creates value and causes people to recognize who you are
The examples: Keith Ferrazzi created the Lincoln Quality Award at Deloitte; Tristan Walker signed up partnerships Foursquare didn't know about until the founder noticed
The tools: Writing, podcasting, contributing to books, hosting dinners, building unique style
Laura Chau case
VC at smaller firm (Canaan Partners) who needed visibility in consumer space. Solution: writing, podcast, book contributions, networking dinners, unique style (tall, heels). Result: made partner in 4 years.
Derek Kan case
His "Doing Power" assignment in class: get appointed head of economic policy for Romney 2012. He did. Then turned it down, but landed as #3 in Transportation, then OMB deputy director. Six years after business school.
Appearance & Power
How You Show Up Matters
We respond mostly to how people look, secondarily to how they sound, least to what they say
Tall people earn more; attractive people earn more (at optimal level)
Body language, vocal tone, and presentation are learnable skills
Tony Hayward (BP) vs. Lloyd Blankfein (Goldman): who survives the scandal? Watch 60 seconds of silent video—you'll know from their presence
Robert de Niro wasn't born knowing how to act. You're not born knowing how to command a room
The core skillMaster your body language. People decide about you in the first moments, mostly from visual cues. Practice this like an actor practices a role.
Network & Center
Become a Broker of Relationships
✗Network events are the best way to build your networkINSTEAD →✓ One-on-one meetings, dinners, and targeted outreach (share articles, make introductions) work far better
✗Build your network with people just like youINSTEAD →✓ Weak ties with different people give you non-redundant information and better job opportunities (The Strength of Weak Ties)
✗Network for yourself—get what you can getINSTEAD →✓ Connect others who benefit from knowing each other. You get power AND credit for being a connector
✗The more power you use, the less you have leftINSTEAD →✓ Using power creates more power. Success attracts more resources and more people who want to work with you