This post is a continuation to Powerful Consulting - #1, Powerful Consulting - #2, and Powerful Consulting - #3 where I tried to put The 48 Laws of Power
This post runs through the laws #31 to #40. It has original laws and my own interpretations that seemed to me more proper fit for Consulting practice.
Consultant or not, read on.
Law #31: Control The Options: Get Others To Play With The Cards You Deal
Greene writes:
The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other persona a choice: Your victims are but are actually your puppets. Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose.
My interpretation of law #31: Control The Options
it is not really important who deals the cards, more important what cards have been dealt. Consultant’s role is making sure only significant cards stay in the game. Once someone tries getting another deck in – ring the bells, raise the flag, pause the game. Further reading.
- Consultant “Kills” With A Borrowed Knife
- Consultant Besieges Wèi To Rescue Zhào
- Consultant Deceive The Heavens To Cross The Ocean. And Wins.
Law #32: Play To People’s Fantasies
Greene writes:
The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes from disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the dessert. Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.
My interpretation of law #32: Sell Vision
Consulting has a lot to do with influence without authority. I found that story telling is a crucial skill. It helps creating a vision and it helps getting people onboard. Once the vision created and everyone is onboard it is much easier to keep on track – just remind the story you have been telling. Further reading.
Law #33: Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
Greene writes:
Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usually an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.
My interpretation of law #33: Find Real Pain, Offer Cure
Consultant is a change agent. He is called to make a change. Change from bad to good, from good to great. Seek for a real problem, look for a real pain, offer significant improvement. Further reading.
Law #34: Be Royal In You Own Fashion: Act Like A King To Be Treated Like One
Greene writes:
The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated: In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to weak a crown.
My interpretation of law #34: Be a Consultant, not a Lackey
Consulting is about solving tough problems. It is not about doing anything a customer wants. Stay on guard for your brand – build it, strengthen it, grow it. Resist the temptation to become a jack of all trades – this is what will ruin your brand. Customers love narrow brands. Further reading.
Law #35: Master The Art Of Timing
Greene writes:
Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to your eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry your to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.
My interpretation of law #35: No Interpretation. Adopted as is.
Timing is king. Move in very fast when it’s time. Stay unseen when time is less than appropriate. Examples of bad timing could be organizational change, major incident, dead line collisions. Try be not become a victim of circumstances. Further reading.
Law #36: Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Then Is The Best Revenge
Greene writes:
By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem.
My interpretation of law #36: Focus on stuff that matters
Stuff that matters is your ultimate goal – your personal wants and needs, your customers desires, and your management requirements. You say NO to all the rest. Focusing only on stuff that matters helps you getting significant results. That’s fulfilling. Further reading.
Law #37: Create Compelling Spectacles
Greene writes:
Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them, Stage spectacles for those around you, then, full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.
My interpretation of law #37: Master Performing Skills
Making others using your skills is part art and part science. The Art part can be learned too. One crucial skill is performing or just public speaking. Consultant must know how to present dry results he achieved in very appealing manner to both high rank managers and to those with grease under their nails. Further reading.
- Dale Carnegie’s Recipe For Effective Public Speaking
- Basic Skills For Effective Public Speaking
- Consultant Speaks Language Everyone Understands
Law #38: Think As You Like But Behave Like Others
Greene writes:
If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them The will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.
My interpretation of law #38: Add Weirdness, But Not Too Much
Being yourself is key. That’s your brand. What consultant brings in is his experience – the most valuable product, stuff that matters. The other side of the story is a human touch. Consultant’s personal brand is built of the two – the experience and the human touch. Add a little human weirdness, but not too much – you do not want your customer flipping a bozo bit on you. Further reading.
Law #39: Stir Up Waters To Catch Fish
Greene writes:
Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective, But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.
My interpretation of law #39: Practice EQ (Emotional Intelligence)
Emotions are your enemy. One impulsive word could ruin all that you have been building for so long. Practice emotional intelligence. Start with simple “Park” technique. It will surely keep you out of trouble. There are way too many tough customers and bosses. Kids sometimes drive you crazy even more. It works perfectly with wives too. Further reading.
Law #40: Despise The Free Lunch
Greene writes:
What is offered for free is dangerous – it is usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation, What has worth is worth paying for. By Paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sigh and a magnet for powers.
My interpretation of law #40: There are no free lunches
Nothing is free.
“Everything counts in large amounts.” – Depeche Mode.
There are exceptions though like love, trust, health, and time. These things are free. Ironically no money can buy it. So once you have it – stay on guard and do not let it slip away from you. All the rest can be bought. So buy it yourself. Further reading.
6 comments ↓
Some of the best ways to get results is framing the options, and ultimately leading the horse to water, or really inspiring people to 3rd alternatives or creating a bigger place to play.
Thank you!
So far i framed 40. 8 left. Next post will complete it all
Good to hear it resonated w/you. it took me some time to figure it out
If you think about it creating a vision and making it common ground for agreement works for fast food restaurants, family reunions… you name it it works.
I have often found myself going crazy if i don’t control the options. Too often I have let the client have too much of a free reign and then I find my self doing things I need to learn or things that take way too much time. I have learned this lesson the hard way.
Thanks Sheila
I learned “Control-the-options” lesson the hard way too
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