THE POWER PRINCIPLE --- INFLUENCE WITH HONOR
by Blaine Lee. Simon & Schuster, 1997
Based on experience at the Covey Leadership Center, this book teaches the core principles that dramatically affect lives and careers by exploring how you can truly influence people with honor instead of giving up, giving in, or taking over. The book teaches that "principle-centered" power is the ability to influence the behavior of others --- NOT to control, change or manipulate it!
FORWARD by Stephen R. Covey
INTRODUCTION --- The "ANSWER" is in YOU! (p1-6)
1) Power and influence (p7-18)
2) Powerlessness --- Why don't they listen to me? (p19-37)
3) Power shift --- from powerlessness to powerful (p38-51)
SELF-ASSESSMENT QUIZ:
[1] Under what circumstances are you likely to become immobilized by doubt or lack of faith?
[2] What triggers this reaction in you? Can you describe your doubts?
[3] In these situations, what better alternatives have you not chosen that seem at first unlikely or
improbable?
[4] What is one thing you could do that would challenge the irrational thought that the best thing
to do is nothing?
[5] Is there another way? What is another alternative?
4) Coercive power --- Controlling others through fear! (p52-77)
5) Utility power --- Let's make a deal (p78-99)
6) Principle-centered power --- Honor makes the difference (p100-118)
7) How to honor --- Ten principles of power (p119-173)
[1] Persuasion (p120-123)
[2] Patience (p123-127)
[3] Gentleness (p128-131)
[4] Teachability (p132-135)
[5] Acceptance (p135-146)
[6] Kindness (p146-151)
[7] Knowledge (p151-155)
[8] Discipline (p155-163)
[9] Consistency (p163-166)
[10] Integrity (p166-172)
Self-Check:
Words to say to yourself to check for integrity:
(1) Are what I think, feel, say and do integrated?
(2) Does what I say match what I do?
(3) Are my words and deeds, feelings and thoughts in harmony right now?
(4) Are my intentions and actions united?
(5) Do I have a sense of completeness and wholeness?
Words to say to "them" to demonstrate integrity:
(1) Do you believe me?
(2) Do you trust me?
(3) Do you believe you can trust what I say?
(4) Do you feel my words and deeds match?
(5) Have you been able to count on me?
Impact --- is it worth it --- as you begin to live the power principles? (p172-173)
[1] You will be more careful what you ask of others.
[2] You will be more confident when you ask anything of others.
[3] You will grow in your ability to influence others.
[4] You will come to understand the relationship between principle-centered
power, influence and leadership.
[5] You will have continuing influence with others without forcing them.
[6] You will have increasing peace of mind.
[7] You will become wiser and more effective as a parent, salesperson, friend,
teacher and leader.
8) How you can increase principle-centered power! (p174-205)
9) Parent power --- How to honor your children (p206-229)
10) Teaching with power --- How to honor those you teach (p230-244)
11) Selling with power --- How to honor your customers! (p245-257)
12) Leading with power --- How to honor those you lead! (p258-277)
What leaders have to do --- What leaders have to be as "pathfinders:"
[1] Vision
[2] Direction
[3] Location
[4] Goals
[5] Strategy
[6] Purpose
[7] Pace
How do I begin leading with honor?
Be involved in "personal transformation" and "alignment" between an
employee's personal values and aspirations and the organization's
values and aspirations.
Application activities --- personal and organizational:
Four simple things organizations can do to facilitate and accelerate the competencies
of its leaders (from Warren Bennis, USC):
[1] Provide terrific role models
[2] Identify and reward effective coaches
[3] Rotate individuals who have the potential for leadership to a variety of roles and jobs
[4] Provide potential leaders with experiences that will benefit them
13) What if THEY are trying to influence YOU? (p278-291)
14) How do I change? (p292-320)
[1] A deathbed confession
[2] If you want to change, but don't know how
[3] Awakening starts the process
The known pain exceeds the unknown pain of change
Assessing the balance between desire and pain
[4] Reshape your thinking and your behavior:
1st: Learn about alternatives
2nd: Get help from others
3rd: Develop the desire for something different
4th: Recognize you have an opportunity to choose
5th: Make the decision to change
6th: Take a leap of faith
[5] Stabilize new ways
[6] Can I change anything? Everything?
[7] But it seems so hard --- Awareness that "life is difficult" makes it possible to cope!
[8] Learning to let go
[9] What are you still carrying?
[10] You can change too
[11] Where do I go from here?
[12] Assessing your readiness for change
15) Living with honor --- the lifelong quest (p321-336)
[1] Where we started
[2] People make the difference
[3] How will you spend the rest of your life
[4] The power process revisited
[5] Power tools and purposes
The "Power Process" diagram (p325)
[6] I want to INFLUENCE YOU --- WITH HONOR!
[7] Earn the privilege to talk about change
[8] Where are you going now?
[9] Carrying the fire with you
[10] What are you making?
APPENDIX --- An invitation to continue your journey --- next steps in the quest (p337-340)
Eight steps on your quest. . .
STEP 8 --- What you nurture and pay attention to tends to change and improve. An
"Action Plan" will help you focus on areas of your leadership which you would
like to expand, clarify, improve or strengthen. A few guidelines:
[1] First, acknowledge that the pursuit of honor is a lifetime task.
[2] Second, start by recognizing your desire to improve.
[3] Third, build on your strengths.
[4] Fourth, start where you are now.
NOTES (p341-348)
INDEX (p349-359)
ABOUT COVEY LEADERSHIP CENTER --- www.covey.com (p361-363)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (p365)
Go to: Change Issue at Work
Go to: Character Issue at Work
Go to: Leadership Issue at Work
Go to: Leadership Control Essay
Go to: Home Page Index
Go to: Interactive Index