Whenever I take on a new leadership role, I’m reminded of the famous words of Baron Acton – “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It’s tempting to want to lead by your ego when you’re in charge. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen. Good bosses that have lost sight of what it means to be a successful leader, simply by letting their own personal agenda take precedence over what’s good for the business. Even I’ve had some moments where I had to step back and ask myself, “Is this what is best for the company or just for me?” As you begin to take on new leadership roles, possibly when you hire a freelancer or by outsourcing jobs, you also run the risk of being corrupted by power. So what can we do to guard against falling into this trap? Refocus on the good – If you have authority, remind yourself what good it can potentially accomplish. For example, does your power allow you to push for innovation or envision new possibilities? Or do you find yourself using your power to squash new ideas that threaten your position? Acknowledge the dark side – Denying or ignoring power’s pull toward corruption is [...]
