Power Intelligence:

Insights on Power and Leadership
When Power Runs Amok

When Power Runs Amok

Power creates progress. But committees, bureaucracies, red tape—these are seen as anathema to progress. They slow things down, mire us in process, dilute bold ideas. So when a strong leader emerges—decisive, visionary, unbound by the need for consensus—we call it refreshing. Efficient. Necessary.

read more
Abuse of Powerlessness

Abuse of Powerlessness

We often think of power as the antidote to vulnerability. If only we had more money, more status, more control—then we wouldn’t feel so anxious, so exposed, so powerless. They may have power, but they don’t feel powerful.

read more
Feed the Platform

Feed the Platform

When competitors cluster, they create a shared ecosystem of talent, capital, infrastructure, and even culture. And when they do so, everyone benefits. These industries invest in a shared platform, creating conditions where more innovation, more opportunity, and more collective value can emerge.

read more
When Experience Becomes a Blind Spot

When Experience Becomes a Blind Spot

Experience makes us wiser. Over time, we learn to read situations faster, spot patterns others miss, and avoid rookie mistakes. That’s the gift of experience—it sharpens judgment.

read more
Influencing without Integrity

Influencing without Integrity

We admire confidence. Vision. The power to inspire action. From boardrooms to newsrooms, we’re often told that great leaders “shape the narrative,” “control the message,” and “move the masses.” It’s an impressive skill—when used wisely.

read more
The Power of Awe

The Power of Awe

The definition of a hero is someone who is “noted for courageous, sacrificial acts or nobility of character.”

read more
When Power Steps Outside the Lines

When Power Steps Outside the Lines

We obey not through force or surveillance, but through a quiet, internalized consent to follow rules and respect norms. Somewhere, we understand that our safety—our collective wellbeing—depends on these tacit agreements.

read more