11 surprising habits of truly powerful people

11 surprising habits of truly powerful people11 surprising habits of truly powerful peoplePower gets a bad rap, but only because people pursue it for the wrong reasons. When power is pursued for the right reasons, it can be a tremendous force for good.Niccolo Machiavelli spread the belief that people can only become powerful by exploiting the worst aspects of human nature.One of these teachings was, A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. Machiavelli was essentially saying that youre an idiot if you keep your promises or stick to your values when youd benefit more by breaking them.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreNot only did we hear it from Machiavelli, but also from plenty of voices in our own time, such as Robert Greene, who said, The key to power is the ability to judge who is best able to further your interests in all situat ions. Its no wonder so many people think that the only way to get power is to be a jerk.Fortunately, Machiavelli and Greene had something in common They were both wrong. Recent research from UC Berkeley shows that when it comes to power, nice guys finish first. The researchers found that the most powerful people (according to ratings from their peers) were those who were the most considerate and outgoing. They also found that those who were the most Machiavellian- using things like gossip and manipulation to gain power- were quickly identified and isolated and ended up with no power at all.Studies like these are rehabilitating powers bad rap. Power isnt inherently evil, and it isnt inherently bad to seek power. Without power, you cant accomplish anything, good or evil. Even those who want elendhing more than to make the world a better place, cant do so without exerting the influence of personal power. Its the abuse of power and the underhanded things people do to achieve it that cau se problems.People who earn and use power wisely have a profound impact on everyone they encounter. Yet, they achieve this power only because they exert so much influence inside, on themselves. We see only their outside we see them innovate, speak their mind, and propel themselves forward toward bigger and better things. Yet, were missing the best part. The confidence and wherewithal that make their influence possible are earned.And while what people are influenced by changes with the season, the unique habits of powerful people remain constant. Their focused pursuit of excellence is driven by eleven habits, which you can emulate and absorb until your power and influence expandThey dont wait for a title to leadIts important not to confuse power with authority. The right title can give you authority, but it cant give you power. On the other hand, you dont need a title to be powerful. You can lead without being a boss and you can have a powerful influence upon your workplace and commu nity without a title.Theyre graciously disruptivePowerful people are never satisfied with the status quo. Theyre the ones who constantly ask, What if? and Why not? Theyre not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom, and they dont disrupt things for the sake of being disruptive they do so to make things better.They think for themselvesPowerful people arent buffeted by the latest trend or by public opinion. They form their opinions carefully, based on the facts. Theyre more than willing to change their mind when the facts kooperation it, but they arent influenced by what other peoplethink, only by what theyknow.They focus only on what really mattersPowerful people arent distracted by trivialities. Theyre able to cut through the static and clutter, focus on what matters and point it out to everyone else. They speak only when they have something important to say, and they never bore people with idle banter.They master conflictPeople tend to err on one of two extremes when it comes to co nflict some are passive and avoid conflict altogether, while others seek out conflict aggressively, thinking that this will make them powerful. People who master conflict know how to approach it directly and assertively, yet constructively. Truly powerful people do not react emotionally and defensively to dissenting opinions- they welcome them. Theyre humble enough to know that they dont know everything and that someone else might see something they missed. And if that person is right, they embrace the idea wholeheartedly, because they care more about the end result than being right.They inspire conversationWhen powerful people speak, their words spread like ripples in a pond. Influencers inspireeveryonearound them to explore new ideas and to think differently about their work.They know their strengths and weaknessesPeople who get seduced by power and, therefore, start abusing it are often blind to their own weaknesses. To become truly powerful, you have to see yourself as you reall y are and to position yourself to use your strengths for the greater good. That means taking a clear-eyed look at your strengths and your weaknesses and owning them both completely.They grow and leverage their networksThose who grow power the Machiavellian way dont bother with people who arent useful to them. People see this coming a mile away, and it doesnt win any friends.Truly powerful people know how to make lasting connections. Not only do they know a lot of people, they get to know their connections connections. More importantly, they add value to everyone in their network. They share advice and know how, and they make connections between people who should get to know each other.They ask for help when they need itIts easy to mistakenly assume that powerful people never ask for help from anybody. Asking for help when you dont know the answer or cant do it all by yourself is not a sign of weakness its a sign of strength. It sends the message that youre not so insecure as to put your ego above the mission.It takes a tremendous amount of confidence and humility to admit that you need assistance, and asking for assistance is critical, because theres nothing worse than trucking down the wrong path when youre too embarrassed or proud to admit that you dont know what youre doing.They believePowerful people always expect the bestThey believe in their own power to achieve their dreams, and they believe that others share that same power. They believe that nothing is out of reach and that belief inspires those around them to stretch for their own goals. They firmly believe that one person can change the world.They do itnowWay back in 1894, Orison Swett Marden made an important point Dont wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seek common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities. Strong men make them. If you put off growing your power until the right opportunity comes along, its never going to happen. Powerful people know that developing power is a lot like lifting weights or running a 5K. The only way to strengthen those muscles is by using them, so stop making excuses and just start. You know what you believe in, you know who you are, and you know what you want to become, so act like it. Yes, it will be uncomfortable at times, and yes, some people will tell you youre doing it wrong, but the only way to achieve power and use it for good is to get out there and do it.Bringing It All TogetherBoris Yeltsin once said, You can make a throne of bayonets, but you cant sit on it for very long. Forget everything youve heard about power, because, in the end, the nice guys really do win. Whether you call it power or influence, its okay to want it and its okay to have it. You just have to pursue it and use it with integrity.Have you seen people abuse power? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.This article first appeared on Linkedin.You might also enjoyNew neurosc ience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people