Tech Leader Pro

Tech Leader Pro podcast 2023 week 33, The subtle art of power plays

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As a leader you will often have to operate in a hostile environment, and employ a reasonable degree of hostility to survive. In this podcast, I will discuss the darker power plays that you may employ sparingly.

Notes:

  • I made a post on X during the week about the subtle art of power plays: https://twitter.com/TechLeaderPro/status/1691932765783019743
  • Sometimes leadership is closer to open conflict than you would wish for so you have to be ready.
  • Even though we don't want to be in a fight, in can still happen regardless.
  • You may choose to employ these tactics, or if you are on the receiving end, it will help you spot them.
  • They are in the same category as martial arts: aggressive techniques you can learn to defend yourself, but you hope you never need to use.
  • Some typical examples:
    • Never stick to an agenda set by others.
    • Operate by your timetable, ignore others.
    • Always delay your responses.
    • Act without communicating intent.
    • Accept all info offered, respond with silence.
    • Stop apologizing.
    • Compliment your opposition for doing a great job on tasks you know they hate doing.
    • Leave gaps open.
    • I am not advocating the above as default modes, but can be used instead for exceptional, confrontational circumstances.
    • What I am working on this week:
      • Adding a new report to https://five.today/ for calculating your average task closure time.
      • Media I am enjoying this week:
        • Foundation season 2.

          • Notes and subscription links are here: https://techleader.pro/a/604-Tech-Leader-Pro-podcast-2023-week-33,-The-subtle-art-of-power-plays

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          Tech Leader ProBy John Collins