The second key is to know the limits of the power you have within the total amount of power available. By necesity, power, within any organizational structure, is finite. It might be limited by the Table of Organization or by the economic realities of your specific circumstance. The leader of an underfunded non-profit is most likely less powerful than the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

There is a famous tale of King Leonidas of Sparta at Thermopylae. His engineers were arguing over the best way to build a wall. While the engineers argued, Leonidas walked over, picked up a rock and set it down. He then picked up another rock and set it down next to the first. The soldiers saw their King working to build the wall and joined in the labor. And that is how and where the wall at the pass of Thermopylae was built. Never forget, your workers will always look to your ability to get the job done and use that as their impetus to work.

"Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

Now that you have accepted that there are boundaries to your power, you must learn those limits. Flex your muscles on small issues. Sophocles said it best: What you cannot enforce, do not command. Do not make the mistake of fighting an unwinnable battle. Choose initially based on the weakness of your target. See if you can budge the organization. It is important to never test someone more popular than you or someone with greater talent or reputation. Never make enemies unnecessarily. Utilize your talents and accept the jobs that others will not. Show them you are not afraid of doing the heavy lifting. This is called "earning your stripes" or "generating sweat equity." No one likes the jerk that gripes but never presents a solid, alternate solution.

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility." ~ St. Augustine

If this suceeds and you accomplish your task start to build a base of support. Win allies and friends to your cause. Again, do not make enemies unnecessarily. Enemies have a strange habit of striking when you least expect them. You will have plenty of time later down the line to make plenty of enemies. Your first step should be the building and consolidation of your power base. These are the people who will rally to your banner in time of need. Don't make promises! Don't sell your soul to other interests. This will sow the seeds of your destruction. Rise to power through your achievements and your ability to perform; not on campaign promises that will hamper your ability to make decisions later.

If all goes well, you should rise thru the ranks. You will be setting yourself

There is a famous tale of King Leonidas of Sparta at Thermopylae. His engineers were arguing over the best way to build a wall. While the engineers argued, Leonidas walked over, picked up a rock and set it down. He then picked up another rock and set it down next to the first. The soldiers saw their King working to build the wall and joined in the labor. And that is how and where the wall at the pass of Thermopylae was built. Never forget, your workers will always look to your ability to get the job done and use that as their impetus to work.

"Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

Now that you have accepted that there are boundaries to your power, you must learn those limits. Flex your muscles on small issues. Sophocles said it best: What you cannot enforce, do not command. Do not make the mistake of fighting an unwinnable battle. Choose initially based on the weakness of your target. See if you can budge the organization. It is important to never test someone more popular than you or someone with greater talent or reputation. Never make enemies unnecessarily. Utilize your talents and accept the jobs that others will not. Show them you are not afraid of doing the heavy lifting. This is called "earning your stripes" or "generating sweat equity." No one likes the jerk that gripes but never presents a solid, alternate solution.

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility." ~ St. Augustine

If this suceeds and you accomplish your task start to build a base of support. Win allies and friends to your cause. Again, do not make enemies unnecessarily. Enemies have a strange habit of striking when you least expect them. You will have plenty of time later down the line to make plenty of enemies. Your first step should be the building and consolidation of your power base. These are the people who will rally to your banner in time of need. Don't make promises! Don't sell your soul to other interests. This will sow the seeds of your destruction. Rise to power through your achievements and your ability to perform; not on campaign promises that will hamper your ability to make decisions later.

If all goes well, you should rise thru the ranks. You will be setting yoursel

"Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

Now that you have accepted that there are boundaries to your power, you must learn those limits. Flex your muscles on small issues. Sophocles said it best: What you cannot enforce, do not command. Do not make the mistake of fighting an unwinnable battle. Choose initially based on the weakness of your target. See if you can budge the organization. It is important to never test someone more popular than you or someone with greater talent or reputation. Never make enemies unnecessarily. Utilize your talents and accept the jobs that others will not. Show them you are not afraid of doing the heavy lifting. This is called "earning your stripes" or "generating sweat equity." No one likes the jerk that gripes but never presents a solid, alternate solution.

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility." ~ St. Augustine

If this suceeds and you accomplish your task start to build a base of support. Win allies and friends to your cause. Again, do not make enemies unnecessarily. Enemies have a strange habit of striking when you least expect them. You will have plenty of time later down the line to make plenty of enemies. Your first step should be the building and consolidation of your power base. These are the people who will rally to your banner in time of need. Don't make promises! Don't sell your soul to other interests. This will sow the seeds of your destruction. Rise to power through your achievements and your ability to perform; not on campaign promises that will hamper your ability to make decisions later.

If all goes well, you should rise thru the ranks. You will be setting yoursel

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility." ~ St. Augustine

If this suceeds and you accomplish your task start to build a base of support. Win allies and friends to your cause. Again, do not make enemies unnecessarily. Enemies have a strange habit of striking when you least expect them. You will have plenty of time later down the line to make plenty of enemies. Your first step should be the building and consolidation of your power base. These are the people who will rally to your banner in time of need. Don't make promises! Don't sell your soul to other interests. This will sow the seeds of your destruction. Rise to power through your achievements and your ability to perform; not on campaign promises that will hamper your ability to make decisions later.

If all goes well, you should rise thru the ranks. You will be setting yoursel

If all goes well, you should rise thru the ranks. You will be setting yourself apart and proving to your managers that you are a person who gets results. And when you achieve a position of power using this formula you will be able to operate without the need to compromise. You will not be beholden to any allies because you have made no campaign promises. You will have risen due to merit and prestige.

Always know the limits of your power and be careful how you use it. The abuse of power is the fastest route to losing it. Those who misuse power are labeled as bullies and will be gradually disregarded. However, once you build a track record of success you will have more leeway to be slightly more belligerent. This tends to be the first trap that a person new to power will fall into. Be aware of this and be leery of it. Working your way back into the good graces of management will be much more difficult.

As we have been taught by our elders, respect must be earned. This very same respect will be the basis of the power you will wield. Earn the respect of your organization by always being in the thickest part of the battle. As one of my mentors taught me, being a leader means that when the proverbial sh** sandwich is passed around you have to take the first and biggest bite. Then when everyone else has taken their miniscule nibble, you have the duty to finish it. A good leader never flinches away from the worst labors.

Ultimately, leadership and power is about sacrifice. Your staff has to believe that you will always shoulder the worst of the burdens. This does not necessarily have to be true. In many cases it is perfectly acceptable to delegate the worst part of the job but it must be clear that you are handling something larger. The fastest way to lose the respect of your workers is to be seen reading the newspaper while they are hard at work. This is the trust that is the basis of your authority. Your staff must always believe that you are working on their behalf; to further their goals and desires. The moment they suspect that your sole goal is solely self-enrichment or self-aggrandizement they will flee from you and rally around another that espouses their interests. You will have lost the consent of the governed because you put yourself before them. Avoid this at all costs.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_(physics)