Too often we hear “power corrupts”, yet it seems that everyone still wants his own slice of the pie. Everyone thinks he’s somehow immune to the temptations that holding power brings to others. We think that everyone else just lacks in moral fiber, but not us — no, we can handle the responsibility!
But can we really? Can you really? Why do you want authority? Is it purely so that you can call the shots? Is it so that you bring your wrath down on the pathetic cretins unfortunate enough to be left under your control? Do you want to do to others all the things have pissed you off in the past?
Do you want control only for the sake of it? Man, I hope not.
Power isn’t sexy. It’s not all that and a bag of chips. Having power may mean that you get to do things your way, implement your own system. Maybe you’ll find that your way works. Or maybe you’ll find that your way sucks. Then what?
When you’re in a position of power, you have to make decisions. And some of those will not be popular. Sometimes you have to give some bad news. Maybe about changes. Your changes. That you implemented and that suck.
Remember that anytime you are in power, you are the face of your organization or operation. When your subordinates perform, you might get a little praise if you’re lucky. But when they drop the ball, you will take the criticism. Whenever people want to complain about something, they will come to you. One thing about being in charge is that it’s not as sexy as some people would believe.
I hope you want to be in control so that you can make the tough decisions. The right decisions. The decisions that might not be so popular. Because knowing you did the hard thing — the right thing — might be the only thing that gets you through the stress and headache of being in control.
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