Power. Is it backroom politics? Or a part fo everyday life? I lean toward the latter definition. Getting anything done, even at home, involves power.
So what are teh secrets to getting it and applying it? Here are 13, culled from 51 years of often painful experience.
1. Recognition. I've written before on the potency of thank-you notes; taking a half-hour (or 500-mile) detour to say thanks is better yet. Can you overdo it? Nope.
2. Showing up. Stellar sports agent-entrepreneur Mark McCormick insists that it's frequently worth hopping on a plane and flying 3,000 miles for a five-minute face-to-face meeting. I've occasionally practiced what he preaches--and does it ever work!
3. Timely calls. It's a truism tht today's big problem was once a tiny disturbance. If only you'd made that little phone call to sort things out. I've often let things fester (I hate phones), but when I've gathered my nerve and gotten on the horn, my batting average has been almost perfect.
4. Minutiae. Al Smith, governor of New York and Republican presidential candidate, cut his teeth as a freshman state legislator around the turn of the century. After a long day's work, instead of pursuing booze and bimbos, he holed up in a grungy apartment and proceeded to read--and master--every line of the state budget. His matchless command of the fine print launched an extraordinary career.
5. Rolodex power. Your influence is almost directly proportional to the thickness of your Rolodex. Work the phones. Don't waste a single lunch. Go to cocktail parties (even if you're a teetotaler). Sure, you can overdo it, but you can also underdo it; who you know is still as important as what you know.
6. Credibility. It comes from bone-deep honesty. And from having "been there." Years ago, as a junior White House staffer, I'd often spend the time before a crucial meeting visiting teh people on the spot in, say, Thailand (I was involved in international narcotics-control policy). Back home a few days later, others had a hard time arguing with, "Well, when I was talking with the ambassador in Bangkok this time last week, he said...."
7. Homework. A Boeing exec insists that his sales folks spend an hour on preparation for every minute a client meeting is scheduled to last. Yes, Virginia, knowledge is power.
8. Commitment. People can sense your emotional commitment (or lack thereof) from 1,000 miles away.
9. Time management. Mind your calendar. Despite a dozen distractions (inevitable in any position of responsibility), the wisest hands stay focused. Make sure, at the end of the day, that you've found a way to work on your one or two big issues.
10. Minding your manners. When I began working on the project that led to "In Search of Excellence" at McKinsey & Co., I got this advice from a senior partner: "You're going to be saying some things that the people around here don't want to hear. So make sure you are always beyond reproach on 'the little stuff'--getting to client meetings early, dressing conservatively, etc." Amen.
11. Decency. Never show poeple up; they'll eventually find a way to get even. Always remember the person you're trying to persuade is at the epicenter of her or his universe. Treat her or him accordingly, and you'll have solved many of life's thornier problems.
12. Discipline. You may be right. You may be on a worthy mission. But knowing when to swallow your pride, back off and prepare to fight another day is as important as knowing when to attack.
13. Street smarts. Follow the path of least resistance. Don't spend most of your finite energy warring with people who think you are coming from left field. Devote your time to building strong allies among supporters, near-supporters, and possible converts.