Why Power Corrupts

Leaders, like everyone else, sometimes fail in a spectacular fashion. 

They misstep, step in it, or step aside when they shouldn’t to the detriment of personal and team success. The common failures of leaders comprise a long and timeless list: Failure to prepare. Failure to coach and teach. Failure to review. Failure to prioritize. Failure to measure. Failure to include. 

But the most egregious failure, by far, is when a leader abuses their power and engages in corrupt or unethical behavior. Leaders who overstep and misuse their power for personal benefit never recover. Yet, we constantly read about leaders who violate the trust others place in them. Why is this? Why do some leaders allow power to corrupt their sense of fairness and decency?  

As they succeed, leaders collect the power to reward and punish others. Successful leadership also attracts the authority and the resources to get things done. The more power they accumulate over time, the more this influence stimulates feelings of superiority, entitlement, and inflated self-worth. This sets the stage for a shifting mindset.  

The more powerful a leader becomes, the more they come to believe they are less accountable for their actions. Because they don’t often answer to others, they do as they please. And what pleases them takes on a life of its own. 

With enhanced power, authority, and resources, opportunities and privileges not afforded to others become available. Taking advantage of these prerequisites seems like a part of the role. As they enjoy the benefits of access, exclusivity, and uncommon experiences, they naturally want more. The temptation of acquiring even more power and the trappings that come along with it can be immensely alluring. 

To maintain the power that infuses them with such an inflated self-importance, those weak in character will sometimes cross a line and engage in selfish acts that can become unethical or unscrupulous. At a minimum, such behavior undermines the trust people place in them. At worst, the house they built comes crashing down. 

Power can corrupt. No one is immune from the desire to create more self-worth. Yet, there are distinctive ways to prevent the natural order of accumulating power and resources from spiraling out of control. In addition to consistent feedback, one key is to share the opportunities, experiences, and rewards with others, especially the team. 

Great leaders spread the wealth. They refuse to accumulate the trappings of success and push whatever comes their way to others. They find self-worth in lifting up others and by rewarding them with the advantages that materialize. For the best leaders, power is like affection. It must be shared to be really enjoyed.