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7 Rules of Power
Jeffrey Pfeffer
The TL;DR
Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer offers blunt, evidence-based rules for getting and using power without waiting to be picked or promoted. The rules: get out of your own way and stop waiting for permission; break rules strategically because the powerful do and the powerless don't; show up powerful through posture, voice, and presence; build a personal brand and tell your story because no one else will; network relentlessly through weak ties; and act before you feel ready. It's uncomfortable, practical advice on self-promotion, political skill, and why modesty is often a liability in organizational life.
Core ideas
- 1Get out of your own way — stop waiting for permission.
- 2Break the rules: the powerful do, the powerless don't.
- 3Show up powerful — posture, voice, presence are real signals.
- 4Build a brand and tell your story — no one else will.
- 5Network relentlessly: weak ties drive opportunity.
Key quotes
"Power is granted to those who already act as if they have it."
"If you don't tell your story, someone else will — and you won't like it."
"Most rules were made by people in power, for people in power."
Apply it this week
- →Send three reconnect notes to weak-tie contacts this week.
- →Take credit publicly for your last shipped win.
- →Apply or volunteer for the next role you're 70% ready for.
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