Power & Influence Habits

Stephen R. Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) AND (The 8th Habit, From Effectiveness to Greatness) offers readers nifty MBA-type models and checklists to “pull out” the inner greatness in employees and, in doing do, form linkages to others within an organization...for the betterment of all.

He’s pulls out memorable quotations and management clichés regarding corporate leadership and moving the organization forward at warp speed. He quotes the obvious from Frost (Two roads diverged in a wood….” And from Peter Drucker, this gem: “In a few hundred years, when the history of our time is written from a long-term perspective, it is likely that the most important event those historians will see is NOT TECHNOLGOY, not the Internet, not e-commerce. It is an unprecedented change in the human condition. For the first time - - literally - - substantial and rapidly growing numbers of people HAVE CHOICES. For the first time, they will have to MANAGE THEMSELVES….And society is TOTALLY UNPREPARED for it” (caps added).

Here’s a fundamental disagreement with Mr. Rober Dilenschneider, who writes TODAY that TECHNOLGY, indeed, forms the basis for building power and influence. On the one hand, Mr. Covey makes recommendations that are supposed to build and organization. On the other, Mr. Dilenschneider offers PERSONAL power- and influence-building techniques. If the organization improves in doing so, that’s OK, too, (he writes that it will, every time, but he emphasizes the PERSONAL GROWTH in well being and material goods come along as well).

Mr. Covey writes: 1. Find your Voice and 2. Inspire Others to Find Their Voice.

Mr. Dilenschneider builds upon these ideas, noting that Gandhi, the Mahatma, believed that “stubbornness is a form of power.” He advised people to stick to their principles and be as stubborn as one has to be IF IT’S RIGHT.

In general words, “You can’t stop a man with a plan.” (Sorry, not politically correct, ladies.)

Both authors seems to be right. There’s a place for leading and growing the organization through sharing objectives and leading employees “out of darkness.” There’s also a place for PERSONAL POWER BUILDING and INFLUENCE EXPANSION, both of which put money into your bank account.

Hummm. Your Blogster: “Let me think. Which to I prefer?”

“Thanks,” Robert!