Where should you look to find the most creative, flexible, forward-thinking people in your organization – at the top, or in the rank-and-file? For years, the answer provided by research seemed a straightforward one: powerful people are more creative. But thanks to a recent set of studies, it’s clear that the story is a bit more complicated than that.
Being in a position of power certainly changes you – not necessarily in an evil way, but there is a definite shift in how you perceive the world around you when you’re the one in the driver’s seat. You think in a more abstract, big-picture way. You become more optimistic, more comfortable with risk, and more open to new possibilities. (A series of studies by Cameron Anderson and Adam Galinsky showed that when people felt powerful, they preferred riskier business plans with bigger potential rewards to more conservative plans, divulged more information and were more trusting during negotiations, chose to “hit” more often during a game of black-jack, and were more even likely to engage in unprotected sex during a one-night stand.)
The relatively powerless, on the other hand, are more concerned with safety and security. They’ve got their guards up, and have to stay focused on not making mistakes or displeasing the higher-ups. Their thinking is more concrete, more conventional, and more risk-averse – not at all conducive to great innovation.
When you are in power, you can be more innovative because you feel more comfortable and secure, and less sensitive to or constrained by what other people think of you. Unless, of course, you don’t feel secure – because your position of power is not guaranteed. Then, according to new studies from researchers at the University of Amsterdam, the tables turn.
When the powerful can become the powerless, and vice versa, psychologists call it an “unstable power hierarchy.” If you are operating in that kind of environment and staying in power is your primary focus, then feelings of power can actually make you more conservative.
Basically, when you don’t want to lose the power you’ve worked so hard to attain, you avoid risks and your creativity is diminished. But unstable power hierarchies are terrific for unleashing the potential of the rank-and-file, because the very real prospect of becoming powerful has the same mind-expanding effects on our thinking that being powerful has in a stable environment.
So if you are at the top of your game and your position is essentially irrevocable or at least particularly secure (think Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, or a second-term U.S. President), you mind is likely teaming with bold and possibly brilliant new ideas. But where gains and losses of power are not only possible but likely, ordinary Joes and Janes may be your organization’s most creative innovators.
Mind blowing, what an excellent article. 10/10.
Thanks,
Adil
Short and straightforward.
Love this kind of article.
But, reminds me of how we can be so addicted to power…
Do you think innovation also comes from the fact that when you are in a powerful position, people expect you to be innovative? e.g.:People stop you in the halls to ask you their advice because they see you as a model. I think this work-under-pressure factor is determinant…
I’d love to hear what you think…
Thanks again for your awesome content!
Vegoia
I can see this being the case- but I think the true underlying cause here is not the presence or absence of power itself, but rather the fear level. If a person is afraid (because of less power over their situation or less security that comes with that power)they become more conservative focusing on self preservation and not acheiving excellence in creativity or performance. Acheiving something new involves risk without exception, so someone who fears failure simply can not risk success.
The simple method to gauge an employees creativity potential is to simply ask what do they fear relative to their work? Being able to incentive without connecting to that fear is key here as well. Especially in a sales environment.
Excellent post. My experience is that power drives innovation, and it is as much as a perception as a reality. I feel that same way Napoleon Hill did about autosuggestion. A power attitude can create power. Thanks for the insights.
Great article!
I’ve always thought that innovations come from risk taking, but you’re definitely right when you say that risk taking depends essentially on confidence and the feeling of safety surrounding one’s situation.
Thanks!
Mathiew
Execellent stuff.
Sometimes people think that it is important to take risks in order to be successful. It is. But,
I think that you should never even think about risks and just go with your feelings. Just concentrate on doing stuff rather than worrying.
Thanks again!
I totally agree with Greg. The fear of failure keeps us back more often than we think. I’ve read Neil Fiore’s book: The Now Habit and I think he has a great point when he says that completing a task is like walking a board. The tasks are simple and we have all abilities to accomplish it. The problem is that when we fear failure, we raise that board in the air and a task becomes as hard to complete as walking a board that goes from the rooftop of a 20 story building to another 20 story building without any safety net. Where in reality, we still have all abilities to complete the task very easily.