Good Power

"True power lies not in domination, but in the willingness to serve others and foster growth." How can you channel your power for global, lasting impact?

1. Good Power Fuels Growth and Transformation

Good power begins with self-improvement and extends outward to inspire growth in others. It goes beyond selfish goals, driving efforts to create meaningful change.

Good power is personal. It pushes you to work on yourself to become a better, stronger version of the person you already are. But its real magic occurs when you use it outwardly. The ripple effect created by helping others grow spreads positive change through families, workplaces, and communities.

For example, if you confront a challenge at work that's holding back your team, good power motivates you not only to solve it for yourself but to create a solution everyone can benefit from. This shared effort positions you as someone who leads positively, rather than through fear or authority.

Examples

• Self-improvement, such as gaining new skills, makes you feel empowered.
• Solving problems collectively at work boosts team morale and productivity.
• Encouraging a friend or colleague sparks a chain of positive action.

2. Serving Others Is a Higher Purpose

Good power pushes you to focus on others' needs instead of chasing only personal success. Service goes deeper than simply fulfilling obligations; it means going above and beyond.

To truly serve others, you must understand them deeply. By listening attentively to their needs and studying what can help them improve, you can offer solutions that matter. It’s about creating meaningful contributions, not just meeting minimum expectations.

Going the extra mile could be as simple as teaching someone an easier method for their work or stepping in to mentor them. When others grow thanks to your contributions, their achievements echo your influence.

Examples

• Learning about a coworker’s difficulties helps you suggest a solution tailored for them.
• Helping a neighbor navigate a tricky issue builds trust in your community.
• Mentoring someone at work fosters shared growth.

3. Research Deepens Your Understanding

To effectively serve others, you must first seek to understand their world. This starts with digging deep into their challenges and experiences.

Research equips you with the knowledge to address specific problems. It could involve reading industry reports or simply asking thoughtful questions. The richer your understanding, the more impactful your solutions will be.

For instance, when IBM worked with Allstate Insurance, Ginni Rometty's team studied shifts in technology and the insurance landscape. This research enabled them to devise strategies that helped Allstate adapt effectively.

Examples

• Reading about trends before proposing a new idea improves its success.
• Asking clients or colleagues open-ended questions offers valuable insights.
• Researching online resources expands your perspective on social issues.

4. Listening Is a Service in Itself

Active listening is an underrated act of service. It helps you truly comprehend others, providing the foundation for meaningful action.

People often think they’re listening, but they’re simply waiting to interject their opinions. Active listening isn’t about waiting to speak; it’s about hearing and valuing others’ perspectives. This skill can strengthen connections and foster collaboration.

When Rometty’s team worked on the Allstate project, they gathered opinions and ideas directly from the client. This approach let them deliver something tailored to the client's specific challenges.

Examples

• Listening attentively to loved ones in crisis makes them feel supported.
• Hearing out coworkers during brainstorming sessions nurtures creativity.
• Understanding employees’ concerns deepens workplace trust.

5. Simplify Communication to Amplify Value

Complicated language or ideas can create barriers. Simple, clear communication ensures your message creates value.

When you’re clear and direct, you empower others to act on your ideas quickly. Complex explanations only waste time and limit understanding. Clarity ensures your ideas are accessible and actionable.

For example, a teacher who simplifies complex theories enables students to learn better. In a workplace, effective communication can save hours otherwise spent clarifying instructions.

Examples

• Explaining processes clearly to new team members sets them up for success.
• Simplified presentations capture clients’ attention and understanding.
• Breaking down financial concepts can help families budget smarter.

6. Mentorship Is a Catalyst for Growth

Teaching and mentoring others is an effective way to use good power. Sharing knowledge and resources lets you guide others toward success.

Being a mentor means nurturing someone’s growth by giving advice, encouragement, and tools. Instead of solving problems for them, mentorship helps them solve their own problems in the future.

For instance, Rometty worked to create skills-based hiring through IBM’s SkillsFirst initiative, removing traditional barriers like college degrees. In doing so, she mentored a generation of employees into meaningful roles in the tech industry.

Examples

• Coaching students or interns helps them build confidence in their journey.
• Providing tools to coworkers helps them excel in their roles.
• Teaching a younger sibling a skill builds their independence.

7. Family Is the First Place You Serve

Your journey in serving others often begins at home. Helping loved ones forms the foundation of understanding and sharing good power.

Rometty’s experience serving her family after her father left shaped her leadership later. Supporting her siblings taught her to advocate for others, whether at home, work, or society at large.

Family involvement strengthens bonds while teaching practical lessons about empathy and cooperation. Helping family members can prepare you to serve larger groups.

Examples

• Helping a family member with homework instills patience and encouragement.
• Taking care of younger siblings fosters responsibility.
• Supporting an elderly parent shows the selflessness of good power.

8. Service Must Extend Beyond Family

As your responsibilities grow, your good power’s reach expands. It allows you to serve a wider audience, benefitting communities and organizations.

When transitioning from personal settings to professional ones, good power means seeing the bigger picture. Through her leadership at IBM, Rometty expanded service from family roles to industry transformation, creating substantial value for clients and employees alike.

The evolution of who you serve can inspire others to identify their opportunities for meaningful contributions.

Examples

• Taking on workplace challenges benefits colleagues and clients.
• Volunteering in community projects uplifts shared goals.
• Advocating for inclusivity in hiring benefits society at large.

9. Good Power Creates a Ripple of Change

The most profound purpose of good power is sparking change that benefits an entire community, organization, or even society at large.

Service-oriented use of good power might spark movements or reform norms. Rometty's initiative to remove degree requirements from hiring opened doors for millions of workers previously overlooked, becoming a catalyst for change in the corporate world.

When used wisely, good power inspires not only solutions but lasting improvements.

Examples

• Initiating recycling programs improves community sustainability.
• Pioneering equal opportunities boosts diversity and inclusivity.
• Advocating for policy change drives long-term social reform.

Takeaways

1. Practice listening actively to understand the needs of others and shape your responses accordingly.
2. Mentor someone in your life by sharing your skills, encouraging their growth, and providing vital resources.
3. Tackle challenges with research and collaboration to create solutions that benefit not just you but also those around you.