How can any company know if its processes, products, people are safe? Only if everyone is watching and telling the truth. The first part can be assumed; the second cannot.
Margaret HeffernanRead
Once you have power, you are inevitably surrounded by people who have their own agendas and will tell you whatever advances them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Power attracts individuals with personal interests who will seek to influence you for their benefit.
In this quote, Margaret Heffernan highlights the reality that once a person acquires power, they become targets for others with their own motives. These individuals may offer advice or support, but their primary concern is often self-advancement rather than genuine support or collaboration. This highlights the importance of being vigilant and discerning in leadership roles, understanding that not all counsel is grounded in goodwill.
Themes
PowerAgendasLeadershipInfluenceSelf-Interest
In practice
Example use cases
In a leadership seminar, this quote was used to illustrate the challenges leaders face with external influences.
More from Margaret Heffernan
All quotes βMost executives I know are so action-oriented, or action-addicted, that time for reflection is the first casualty of their success.
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If the company depends entirely on you - your creativity, ingenuity, inspiration, salesmanship or charisma - nobody will want to buy it. The risk and the dependency are too great.
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Those in powerless positions aren't about to complain about bullying bosses, abusive supervisors or corrupt co-workers. There is no safe way to do so and no process that promises redress.
Margaret HeffernanRead
Bosses and leaders everywhere should cherish the people who bring them bad news, disappointing data or hard problems.
Margaret HeffernanRead
[For constructive conflict,] we have to resist the neurobiological drive which means that we really prefer people mostly like ourselves.
Margaret HeffernanRead
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