Power's Evolution

In one of Stephen R. Covey’s books, he relegates to the appendix a most interesting exercise in quantifying the different leadership theories, from the Great Man theory, to Spiritual Leadership. Between the lines it seems obvious that these leadership, and indirectly power and influence as well, MAY evolve over time, even over centuries, if one watches, charts them and keeps a bibliography.

While Mr. Dilenschneider delves, not at all, into the history of powerul and influential techniques (other book, perhaps), the Covey book makes one pause for a few minutes. Is there no historial literature about effectively seizing power and influence? Are these new concepts - - the concept that one can get BETTER and BETTER at these elusive tools until one becomes successful?

Maybe so.

Let’s try it.

In the 18h century, farmer Americans led by the few educated political minds, seized the ultimate power and influenced a rag-tag group of disinterred city-states into throwing off the yokes of so-called Colonial Tyranny. Federalist papers decried in so many words what should be done. The classics inspired worldly declarations and constitutional ideasl. The most powerful man of the day, humble George Washington, citizen-soldier and plantation owner, carried the day and took the ultimate “power” seat - - the Presidency. He filled the "power and influence" vacuum of the moment, as one might in any company at any given moment if ready and aggressive.

Emerging political parties recognized the powers of the new government as a double-edged sword, both helping and hurting their self interests.

During the 19h century, Americans turned inward on their fellow citizens holding field laborers in the tyranny of slave bondage. It was one thing to get the crops in on time, inexpensively, and quite another to “own” an individual, his family and all his waking moments - - slavery: the sort of ultimate power trip for the slave-owner. They fought a terrible, bloody war over this, with Lincoln the humble leader forcing change and enforcing federal powers.

Turning to this past century, a single power-player in Germany, and another in Italy, and one in Japan, all conspired to force their political and social agendas on their own countrymen and one’s adjacent to them . . .with disastrous results. Power, apparently, has it limits, even when enforced with might.

Then came the rise in what might be called the linguistic power players. They invented new power- and managment-speak language that merged scientific and mathematical principles into a new leadership mumbo-jumbo of this sort: “Theories and Models of Interactive Processes, Multiple-Linkages Model, Multiple-Screen Model, Vertical-Dyad Linkages, Exchange Theories, Behavior Theories, and Communications Theories.” Whatever, as the kids say oh-so-freqently. This morphed into Integrative Transformational, Value-Based theories to further boggle the minds of the unsuspecting. Consults thrived on both explaining and inventing new nonsensical company-speak.

This century most people have NO TIME for SUCH UTTER NONSENSE, your Blogster opines. Get it to me punchy-quick; there’s no time. Time is still money. I’m multi-tasking and losing. Lay it on me and get out of the way. I'm doing my email from Hong Kong and my text-messaging from my parents in Canada.

(Your Blogster reports: On a recent visit to Hong Kong, he saw a young many listening to an MP3 player, while playing an on-line video game and texting his parents in The Philippines, all at a public kiosk in an indoor shopping mall, while sipping decaf. coffee.)

This is pretty much to opposite what Robert Dilenschneider has been writing all along. Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS), though he has the good sense not to actually write this cliché. Examine yourself, trust in your horse sense, built a moral center, serve your clients by staying in tune with the world's changing and emerging electronics, add value. What better prescription for power, influence . . . and just being a better person!!!!!

Of course, it’s pretty easy to get trampled on, so keep your mentoring relationship strong and protective of your best interests. You’re gonna need it!