The Laws of Charisma

CHAPTER 5

POSITIVE POWER:FORCE IS NOT CHARISMA

I would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him he will stick. If I scare him, he will stay just as long as he is scared, and then he is gone.

—GENERAL DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER

Power comes in many forms. Certain forms of power increase our perceived charisma and our ability to influence. When we have legitimate forms of power, people will be more willing and want to take action. When used in the wrong way, power will backfire on you in the long term.

Nearly every organization has some type of authority structure. Rules (written and unwritten) dictate how people are to react to power and authority. Managers always think they have great power, but usually they have ...