Power matters because it shapes what people can do, what they believe they can do, and what they are willing to risk. In this podcast conversation, the useful question is not simply whether power is good or evil. The better question is how power changes behaviour, judgement, incentives, status, and responsibility.
The Good and Evil of Power – With Nathan and friends from Barbarian Rhetoric
I’ve been on Nathan’s podcast several times now as a guest, and this time I was very fortunate to be joined by new friends and old to discuss the nature of power inspired by the show Billions.
Power is intoxicating and in the podcast, we dig into different kinds of power including financial, political and raw animal power. What is power and how does it affect us? Can we harness power for good or does it always corrupt?
This sits alongside my interest in strategy, capability, systems change, and institutional judgement. Organisations often talk about values, culture, governance, and leadership as if power is somewhere else. It is not. Power is already present in who decides, who is heard, who carries risk, who controls resources, and who can shape the story.
Join Nathan and me together with Joseph Shoemaker, Joseph (Padre) Smith, Heavy Metal CJ and Jimee Gee for this long and fascinating discussion.
On Anchor
On Spotify
If you’re interested in power you might enjoy my free audio summary of the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
Or in a similar vein, check out this review I did of Laurence Freedman’s massive book on Strategy.
Related Strategic Pathways
- Strategy: A History And The Craft Of Strategic Judgement
- 48 Laws of Power audio summary
- Education Is A Wicked Problem
- AI Capability & Judgement
- Consulting / AI, Capability & Education Change
FAQ: Power, Strategy, And Judgement
What is this podcast conversation about?
This conversation explores the nature of power, including financial power, political power, social power, raw force, influence, corruption, and the ways power changes human behaviour.
Why does power matter for strategy?
Power matters for strategy because strategy is never only about plans. It is also about who can act, who can decide, who can influence others, who controls resources, and who carries the consequences of a decision.
Does power always corrupt?
Power does not remove human responsibility, but it changes incentives and behaviour. The more useful question is how power is held, constrained, made accountable, and used in relation to other people.
How does power show up in organisations?
Power shows up in organisations through decisions, budgets, roles, status, access to information, control of language, risk allocation, and whose interpretation of reality becomes accepted as authoritative.
How does power connect to strategic judgement?
Strategic judgement requires an honest reading of power. Without understanding incentives, influence, authority, and constraint, leaders can mistake a preferred plan for a real strategy.
Kia ora! Hey, I'd love to know what you think.