Power：Why Some People Have It and Others Don't

Inthiscrowningachievement,oneofthegreatestmindsinmanagementtheoryrevealshowtosucceedandwieldpowerintherealworld.OverdecadesofconsultingwithcorporationsandteachingMBAstudentsthenuancesoforganizationalpower,JeffreyPfefferhaswatchednumerouspeoplesuffercareerreversalsevenasothersprevaildespitetheodds.Ourmostcommonmistakeisnothavingarealisticunderstandingofwhatmakessomepeoplemoresuccessfulthanothers.Bybelievingthatlifeisfair,wetendtosubscribetothe"just-worldphenomenon,"whichleavesusunpreparedforthechallengesandcompetitionoftherealworld.NowPfefferbringsdecadesofhisincredibleinsightstoawideraudience.Brimmingwithcounterintuitiveadvice,numerousexamplesfromvariouscountries,andsurprisingfindingsbasedonhisresearch,thisgroundbreakingguiderevealsthestrategiesandtacticsthatseparatethewinnersfromthelosers.Power,heargues,isaforcethatcanbeusedandharnessednotonlyforindividualgainbutalsoforthebenefitoforganizationsandsociety.Power,however,isnotsomethingthatcanbelearnedfromthoseincharge—theiradviceoftenputsarosyspinontheirascentandfocusesonwhatshouldhaveworked,ratherthanwhatactuallydid.Instead,Pfefferrevealsthetruepathstopowerandcareersuccess.Iconoclasticandgroundedintherealpolitikofhumaninteraction,Powerisanessentialorganizationalsurvivalmanualandanewstandardinthefieldofleadershipandmanagement.