Have you ever watched a colleague get promoted to team lead, only to see them change?
They start off grounded, empathetic, and fair. Then, slowly, that openness starts to fade. They seem less interested in feedback. More impulsive. And the empathy? Itโs like it vanished.
Sound familiar? This change isnโt uniqueโitโs a trap nearly every leader risks falling into.
This is the ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ , a term coined by psychologist Dacher Keltner.
And now it gets interest: it doesnโt just impact โother leaders.โ ๐๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช, ๐ฉ๐ค๐ค.
The Power Paradox concept explains how, as leaders gain power, they often lose the very qualities that like respect and trust that led them to power. Keltnerโs research shows that power affects the brain, triggering dopamine and sparking a โhighโ that can become addictive.
While it feels great, it also blunts social awareness, turning focus inward and making self-serving decisions feel โright.โ
If youโre a leader, donโt assume youโre immuneโ ๐ข๐ธ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด is the key to avoiding this trap.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ด๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ถ๐:
- ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐: Empathy fades fast with power. Keep listening, and make a habit of asking your team what they really need. Adopt a regular โLoving/Kindnessโ meditation practice to increase empathy.
- ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ: Power can make people reluctant to be honest. Show your team that you genuinely value their insights, not just their agreement.
- ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ: Real leadership is about serving others. Focus on the teamโs success and growth, not just your own.
- ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด Power drives impulsive decisions. Before you make a call, take a breath. Ask yourself: who does this really serve?
The Power Paradox is real, and it can sneak up on anyone. Stay aware, and protect the qualities that make you a true leader.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฝ. โฌ
