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George Washington shocked the world by surrendering power after winning the Revolutionary War. That single decision didn’t just define a leader; it helped shape the foundations of modern democracy. It remains a powerful example of how intentional power design, not personal ambition, builds trust and resilience in organizations.
In today’s episode, we explore what this means for today’s business leaders. Drawing on research and other real-world cases, we unpack the invisible levers that either keep power healthy or allow it to corrupt. You’ll hear how institutional structures, role design, and even evolutionary psychology determine whether leaders remain mission-focused or drift toward self-interest under pressure.
If you’re leading a team, a company, or a culture, this discussion will arm you with three proven strategies to design power systems that support performance and safeguard against ego-driven misuse. We also share how to spot hidden risks before they derail your leadership and what to do about them.
In this episode:
- Why power design matters in leadership
- Real-world examples: Washington, Lee Kuan Yew, & NASA
- How to design power systems
- Final takeaway: Design beats default power
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
French, J. R. P., & Raven, B. (1959). The bases of social power. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1960-06701-004
Peyton, T., Zigarmi, D., & Fowler, S. (2020). The relationship of leader power use and follower motivational outlook and work intention. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30774619/
Wisse, B., Faber, N. R., van Vugt, M., & Evers, A. (2019). Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it: The combined effects of leader fear of losing power and competitive climate on leader self-serving behavior. https://www.scienceopen.com/document?vid=5b6d9055-a12a-425a-a6d0-c924189655f9
Get Your Copy of The Mammoth in the Room: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book/
Get in Touch:
Website: https://www.mammothleadershipscien ces.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences
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