How to Maintain Power: 6 Strategies to Preserve Influence

Have you ever wondered how some people manage to stay in positions of power for so long? What are their secrets to maintaining influence and authority?

In his book 7 Rules of Power, Jeffrey Pfeffer explores the strategies and techniques used by successful leaders to sustain their influence. This article delves into Pfeffer's insights on how to maintain power and protect your status in both personal and professional settings.

Ready to learn the art of preserving your influence? Let's dive into some practical techniques that can help you sustain and expand your power.

Leveraging Your Position for Lasting Impact

Once you've gained a position of influence, it's crucial to know how to maintain power and protect your status. Let's explore some effective techniques for preserving your influence and making a lasting impact in your personal and professional life.

Strike While the Iron is Hot

When you first step into a position of power, you have a unique opportunity to make significant changes. This is your moment to act decisively and push your agenda forward. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that opposition will form and make it harder to achieve your goals.

Take a page from historical figures like Robert Moses or Lyndon B. Johnson. They understood the fleeting nature of certain opportunities and capitalized on them to accomplish great things that expanded their power. For example, when Rubin took on a new role, he quickly established a fresh organizational structure inspired by Stanford's methods. This swift action improved patient satisfaction and solidified his authority.

Remember, the key is to move quickly. Implement changes, remove obstacles, or neutralize challenges to your authority before opposition has a chance to mobilize. By doing so, you'll minimize opportunities for others to undermine your influence.

Turn Adversaries Into Allies

Another proactive measure to maintain your power is to strategically transform adversaries into supporters. When you assume a leadership position, consider making changes to your team that will boost the organization's efficiency and align with your vision.

By repositioning key team members into pivotal roles, you can create a more cohesive and robust leadership structure that supports your goals. This approach not only strengthens your position but also helps to shift the overall perspective within the company in your favor.

Create Systems That Centralize Your Authority

To preserve your influence in the long term, it's essential to establish systems that formalize your control. This might involve setting up a share structure with different classes to maintain control, combining the roles of CEO and chairman of the board, or implementing strategies to prevent obvious successors from emerging.

Many successful entrepreneurs, including tech giants like Google, have demonstrated the importance of creating structures that preserve a person's influence within a company. By putting these systems in place, you're creating a foundation that will help you maintain your power even as your organization grows and evolves.

Craft Your Narrative

Your reputation is a powerful tool in maintaining your influence. Successful leaders often construct rationalizations for their actions that protect their standing. They understand that displays of remorse are often viewed as weakness, while controlled displays of anger can be seen as a show of strength.

Look at figures like Elon Musk or Elizabeth Holmes. Despite controversies, they've managed to maintain reputations that uphold their esteem and preserve their influential positions. By developing a well-regarded standing and establishing ties with respected institutions, you can soften the impact of controversial decisions and preserve your influential status.

Understand the Power Dynamics

To effectively maintain your power, it's crucial to understand the cognitive biases and social dynamics at play. The "Matthew Effect" describes how those who already hold influential roles are more likely to gain further advantages, reinforcing their pre-existing status. This effect can be seen in various sectors, from publishing to the formation of online communities.

People often have a psychological inclination to assume that the world operates fairly, which can cause them to regard those in authority as deserving of their positions. This bias can work in your favor if you're in a position of power, as people may be more likely to overlook or excuse your actions.

Navigate the Double Bind

If you're from an underrepresented community, you may face additional challenges in maintaining your power. The "double bind" refers to the way societal norms and conventional roles can restrict the aspirations of women and minority groups in seeking and maintaining leadership roles.

To overcome these challenges, you may need to embrace the courage to defy traditional expectations and utilize unique strategies. Historical and contemporary examples show that exerting influence from a non-dominant position often involves challenging societal norms and accepted behaviors.

Continuously Reinforce Your Position

Maintaining power is an ongoing process. You need to continuously reinforce your position by making strategic moves, solidifying your authority, and protecting yourself against potential negative consequences.

Remember to move swiftly when opportunities arise, transform adversaries into collaborators, establish organizational structures that centralize your authority, and craft a narrative that validates your decisions and protects your reputation. By employing these techniques, you'll be better equipped to sustain your influence and protect the power you've gained.