Power, what is it, and how to get it?

[Generation]

What does power mean to you? and how might one go about to attaining it?

 

I imagine when most people consider the idea of someone wanting to gain power, it's for reasons like to be corrupt or to be domineering over others. It's a controversial topic to discuss which is why I've never discussed it with friends and I used to think quite negatively about those who were in the pursuit of power. But lately, I've been thinking about myself and my path in life, and the role I've played in groups, whether those groups are among my friends, peers, coworkers and I was never the type to pursue any sort of dominant position where I have a lot of influence. So the idea of having power is seducing me now as I am growing older. Everyone has their interpretation of power I feel, and most of the time it's a negative connotation of the word. I don't mean to be domineering like some people who have power or use it inappropriately, but I want some of the things that people in power do have, such as influence and respect and wealth. It's probably nice to have that kind of status, security and freedom and assurance that you're doing something that aligns directly with what being successful is about. Not that I'm trying to say you must be powerful to be successful. I think deep down, I just want to be really successful and in some ways that means gaining power and because I'm not satisfied with how things currently are with social group dynamics, such as work if you're an underling for a lousy boss. I think there's a deep seated desire inside me to make things better for everyone. So how does one go about to gaining power and influence, from a micro level and to a macro level?

[SapphireNoir10]

I have no idea. The idea of power doesn't do it for me. Theres no power struggles in my relationship or friendships. At work, even the people in power do not behave as such and therefore I always feel on even level.

 

I have no idea how you gain power really. I think with success comes power. Power also comes from confidence, assertiveness...but not arrogance.

 

thats the best I can do! lol

[Capricorn3]

I have no idea. The idea of power doesn't do it for me. Theres no power struggles in my relationship or friendships. At work, even the people in power do not behave as such and therefore I always feel on even level.

 

I have no idea how you gain power really. I think with success comes power. Power also comes from confidence, assertiveness...but not arrogance.

 

thats the best I can do! lol

This post covers more or less what my thoughts are too. Also, one doesn't have to have power for people to respect you.

[Generation]

This post covers more or less what my thoughts are too. Also, one doesn't have to have power for people to respect you.

 

They might even resent you, but having power has other benefits.

[SapphireNoir10]

I don't like the idea of 'power' to be honest. I just like living my life respecting people, they generally respect me, and that's enough.

[Generation]

I think on the surface, I don't like the idea of power either but deep down I think it's something I want, something I had to realize and accept. I think it's something most guys have had reinforced in their mind from either an early age or at some stage in their life and power can be interpreted in many different ways. Possessing confidence, being attractive, secure and having leadership qualities, overall to be successful.

[blueidealist24]

I think power over yourself and your own destiny is important. I don't think power over others is important. However, it seems like to have more power over yourself and your own destiny, you have to move yourself up on the hierarchy compared to others - not necessarily have power over them, but be better than them at something so you have a higher position. I used to think I never wanted to be any kind of manager, but I've seen lately that managers have SO much more control over their own schedules than employees lower on the totem pole and I've been wondering if being a manager wouldn't be so bad after all.

[Generation]

Yeah, it comes down to that as well. I don't want to dominate anyone, that's not what I think of when I think of myself having power and being in control but that's the image a lot of people seem to hold because a lot of people who do have that kind of power abuse and misuse it and go on power trips. They also use their power for receiving sexual favors and doing really scummy things, I just hate the corruption. I'm not about that and refuse to stoop to that level. I just want to have freedom, be successful, and be self assured of myself and know I'm on the right track in life. I would love to be a manager, but in all my jobs in everything I've ever done, I've always been at the bottom and it's pretty depressing sometimes, cause the people who are at the top, I just don't understand it.

[Capricorn3]

I would love to be a manager, but in all my jobs in everything I've ever done, I've always been at the bottom and it's pretty depressing sometimes, cause the people who are at the top, I just don't understand it.

It helps to remember that for the vast majority of people in managerial positions or "at the top" have had to work many years to get there. You usually work your way to the top. It's not very common for people to leave school or college and go directly into a position of power in a company. I don't know how old you are or how many years you have been working and what kind of jobs you have held, but if still pretty young, then understand that you probably have to work your way to the top, and/or have the right qualifications too.

[lizzie2011]

Power does have its negative connotations which is odd since its essentially a positive thing. I don't agree that you have to wait for years to be at the top. Fastest way to get to the top is to start your own enterprise. Then even if you don't have money you are your own boss. Your post is pretty wide and I am not sure what aspect of your life you want more power in. If its bettering the conditions at work there may be a union you can join. You can put yourself out there whenever an election rolls around. There are non-profit organizations you could join which have social and political power.

 

Be careful, power is seductive and can lead you down the dark path. If you ever utter the words "Do you know who I am?" its time to self evaluate

[blueidealist24]

When I worked in retail, I sometimes scratched my head as to why certain people were at the top, but now that I'm working an entry-level job in an office, I think the managers know what they're doing. Maybe I'm lucky to be at a company that hires smart people to lead?

[Generation]

It helps to remember that for the vast majority of people in managerial positions or "at the top" have had to work many years to get there. You usually work your way to the top. It's not very common for people to leave school or college and go directly into a position of power in a company. I don't know how old you are or how many years you have been working and what kind of jobs you have held, but if still pretty young, then understand that you probably have to work your way to the top, and/or have the right qualifications too.

 

Well, at my current job which I've been there for a year, I haven't been getting a lot of hours and exposure to projects because they don't keep me around for long when the projects die down, but there are people who have started later than I have who are already bumped to being the head of a project now, even though they've worked at less projects and for less time than me. It's not hard to be the head of a project. I'd love to even be an assistant to them if I can. They're pretty much making at least 8 dollars more than me per hour, and they work according to when they want. I usually get sent home early when it dies down, which I understand cause I'm not needed anymore. But I'm stuck doing the lowest paid job for the projects I work at. Even completely brand new employees sometimes get paid more than me just cause they don't think to ask me to do the higher paying jobs, they would rather hire someone new and train them for it, even though I've already been trained and have done it just to cover for people who don't show up to work and have been doing so for a year now, and I do as good as a job as anyone else. I just don't get the chance to do that as my permanent title. And it's not like I'm a bad employee at all, I actually think I'm really good. Sometimes I won't take a break, wired on caffeine, and work at it like a machine and I love it cause time flies. I remember at one project I was at, they were 3 days behind on something serious, and they asked me to help (I was supposed to get paid a lot more for what I was asked to do but I didn't) with my help they managed to catch up and stay 2 days ahead of schedule. Obviously I had proven myself very capable and competent. The people I worked with were really impressed with me constantly saying thank you, calling me a machine and wondering how I even did it. It's ironic, me doing that much work all at once so they can stay above water now gave them a good reason to cut me, sometimes I think I'm too efficient.

 

 

Power does have its negative connotations which is odd since its essentially a positive thing. I don't agree that you have to wait for years to be at the top. Fastest way to get to the top is to start your own enterprise. Then even if you don't have money you are your own boss. Your post is pretty wide and I am not sure what aspect of your life you want more power in. If its bettering the conditions at work there may be a union you can join. You can put yourself out there whenever an election rolls around. There are non-profit organizations you could join which have social and political power.

 

Be careful, power is seductive and can lead you down the dark path. If you ever utter the words "Do you know who I am?" its time to self evaluate

 

I hate the line "do you know who I am?" and would never ever use it. I deal with people like that almost each night. I'm a bouncer at a night club, and a lot of people try to jerk me around with that line if I don't let them in.

 

I would like to start my own business, that's a dream. Just don't know what yet.

[blueidealist24]

What exactly is this job? I don't know why they're not promoting you when you're doing such a good job.

[Jamesonn]

I think the word you're looking for is "dominance" Having a more dominant attitude, body language, speech etc...naturally attracts people to you who view you as authority.

[Alezia]

I'd be careful to put power and domineering together. I am very easy going, bubbly and silly, but I usually naturally attract offers in positions of authority or leadership. People's first impressions are usually that I am very non-serious, dumb, and child-like. Not to say that I couldn't use some speech and presentation training, but I think there are various sources of power - knowledge, and inspiring others being two others of them.

 

For me, it's actually naturally very difficult "not" to lead - and it is a conscious decision I need to make and maintain to "step back/down". I assume that some personalities are just more driven to take on more, or in a creative manner.

[pl3asehelp]

I think there's good (deserved) power and bad (taken) power. Ghandi was undoubtedly powerful in a good way. Success is a subjective term, but many equate success to wealth. Ghandi was most definitely not wealthy or physically attractive. His life was not secure. Some respected him, others did not. He was extremely intelligent, a good communicator, and his motivation was to help himself and the people of his nation - I think it was those 3 attributes that made him powerful. He didn't set out to be 'successful' or powerful. Of course Hitler and Mussolini were powerful too, right? But in a bad way. Those guys had to have been somewhat intelligent and obviously good communicators and charismatic. They were also murderers and had no qualms about killing anyone who stepped between them and their dreams.

 

I think the biggest difference is that those bad guys were motivated to be powerful as an end goal in itself, whereas Ghandi's end goal was liberation and power was just something he knew he needed to have in order to make that happen.

 

So, I think it depends on what your values are and what kind of power you want as to how you go about getting it.