This post is a final part of series of posts Powerful Consulting - #1, Powerful Consulting - #2, Powerful Consulting - #3, and Powerful Consulting - #4 where I tried to put The 48 Laws of Power
This post runs through the laws #41 to #48. It has original laws and my own interpretations that seemed to me more proper fit for Consulting practice.
Consultant or not, read on.
Law #41: Avoid Stepping Into A Great Man’s Shoes
Greene writes:
What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your won making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.
My interpretation of law #41: No interpretation. Adopted as is.
Creating a brand is hard, changing it is even harder. It is third time I reinvent myself professionally so I know it first hand. What helped me establishing myself and getting my own shoes is applying few principles I followed each time. The principles are:
- Say goodbye to your previous brand, tell others you are out of that business. Say so to yourself too.
- Focus solely on the new thing.
- Get a mentor, the best one you can get.
- Connect with the community - internal and external.
- Market your new you internally and externally (in person, conventions, blog, and other channels).
- Deepen the skills – much deeper than the average.
- Standardize the techniques – be fast performer, customers love time savers.
Further reading.
Law #42: Strike The Shepherd And The Sheep Will Scatter
Greene writes:
Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoner of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.
My interpretation of law #42: Find The Root Cause.
Do not waste your time explaining best practices and proving your are right. Find the root cause for whatever you are involved with. Most of the time it is not even technical problem but human problem.
"No Matter how it looks at first, it’s always a people problem." - Gerald M. Weinberg’ in his Secrets of Consulting: A Guide to Giving and Getting Advice Successfully
Find that guy and try to feel his pain. Only then offer the solution. Further reading.
- Three Laws Of Consulting By Gerald M. Weinberg
- Two Crucial Lessons Every Consultant Must Learn First
Law #43: Work On The Hearts And Minds Of Others
Greene writes:
Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn, And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear, Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.
My interpretation of law #43: Win The Heart, The Mind Will Follow
I adopted it from J.D.’s Win the Heart, the Mind Follows. I have recently finished reading a book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t
Law #44: Disarm And Infuriate With The Mirror Effect
Greene writes:
The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of the Mirror Effect.
My interpretation of law #44: Lead By Asking A Better Questions
Consultant is a natural target to ask him numerous questions. That is perfectly OK, but at some point the questions turn into distraction or even into a real blocker that prevents fruitful work. Such questions can come either from procrastinators that flood you with purposeless questions just to kill time or from your enemies that are less than happy you are here and helping. Defend yourself by asking question back. Procrastinators should get busy by trying to find the answers while leaving you alone, your enemies would respect you as superior opponent. Further reading.
- What’s The Powerful Skill Of All? Is It Asking The Right Questions?
- Consultants, Beware Of Procrastinators, Disengaged, And Distracters!
Law #45: Preach The Need For Change, But Never Reform Too Much At Once
Greene writes:
Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.
My interpretation of law #45: Improve a Little Daily, It’ll Build Up A Huge Improvement Annually
I believe it boils down to 3 keys – goal, plan, execution. If you want to achieve something - that is the goal. It is OK to set “impossible” goals, call it challenging or aggressive goals. Do not discard it right away, try to build the plan – the milestones and action items (WBS – work breakdown structure). Does it seem doable on the paper? If so, go ahead and just execute it against the plan. If it works and you hit your milestones - keep sticking to your plan, if not – change your plan. The trick is not getting too far with failing plan during the execution – fail fast. Further reading.
Law #46: Never Appear Too Perfect
Greene writes:
Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.
My interpretation of law #46: Be Yourself
And that is it. Do not run the streets bragging about your strengths or weaknesses. Just do what you know to do best and constantly improve, then improve some more. Say No to what you do not know how to do when asked. If you must do it – set proper expectations upfront, if you mustn’t – turn it down, “Sorry, I am not in the know, but I know the guy who perfectly suits the job.” Further reading.
Law #47: Do Not Go Past The Mark You Aimed For: In Victory, Learn When To Stop
Greene writes:
The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat, Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.
My interpretation of law #47: No interpretation. Adopted as is
Hitting the mark, reaching the goal is a great satisfaction. Many efforts and time were invested to reach it. Stop. Celebrate it. Review. Set another challenging goal, plan, and execute. Further reading.
Law #48: Assume Formlessness
Greene writes:
By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as a water: never bet on stability or lasting order, Everything changes.
My interpretation of law #48: No interpretation. Adopted as is
Let Brice Lee stress the point:
Empty your mind; be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
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2 comments ↓
Thank you. I can even think of specific names
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