Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don’t
>> By Jeffrey Pfeffer
>> Harper Business, 288 pages, $27.99
About the book: “Power” is Stanford University professor Jeffrey Pfeffer’s examination of what it takes to successfully play the game of office politics. He suggests that many individuals fail to ascend to higher ranks in an organization because they mistakenly believe that the world is a fair and just place. Pfeffer offers insights into the accumulation and maintenance of power and the reasons why individuals who possess it lose their way.
The author: Jeffrey Pfeffer is the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. He is the author of 13 books including, “What Were They Thinking?” and “Managing with Power: Politics and Influence in Organizations.”
Why you should read it: “Power” is unapologetic in its portrayal of the modern workplace. While the latter half of the first decade of the 21st century was a time in which the title of CEO became vilified, little has been done to change the traditional methods of asserting dominance in the work environment. After years of observation, Pfeffer provides the tactical means to navigate one’s way to the upper levels of an organization. Anyone in management who feels as if his or her efforts to quietly deliver good results are going unrewarded should read “Power.” It’s less a flirtation with the dark side than it is an accurate picture of what it takes to succeed in today’s ultra-competitive work environment.
Why it’s different: There are numerous management books that, as Pfeffer stated in the interview, offer an idealistic vision of what the workplace should be. Pfeffer goes against the grain and gives readers the ugly truth about success. He accepts and promotes the fact that his book will make some readers uncomfortable.
Can’t miss: “Getting In: Standing Out and Breaking Some Rules.” In this chapter, Pfeffer covers one of the more difficult skills for readers to master: the art of self-promotion. It is a delicate art that is rife with opportunities for heavy-handedness. Pfeffer does an excellent job of providing examples of the right ways to ensure that the most important people in an organization notice a reader’s stand-out achievements.
To share or not to share: This is not a book that is likely to be shared. People who oppose Pfeffer’s ideas would not want “Power” to fall into the wrong hands. Readers who agree with Pfeffer’s insights would prefer to keep his wisdom to themselves.
Soundview Executive Book Summaries:
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