Financial Times

Learning the laws of power to be successful
By Nilooka Dissanayake
When I started my career, right at the bottom of the ladder in the accounting profession-over a decade ago-my dear reader, I was just 21 years old. However, I was a qualified accountant. In many instances this was an immense advantage. But in a few cases it proved to be a big handicap. That was in cases where I had to work under 'seniors' who were still pursuing studies and had inferiority complexes. Some were unable to handle a fully qualified junior. And one of them made my life so miserable that every day I would come home and cry. It is impossible to work enthusiastically in a professional manner if you have a superior who is into making your life miserable. And, oh, did I want to work! I was so passionate and hence, the pain was unbearable.

Unable to tolerate this, my father decided to buy a book for me. It was Harvey MacKay's How to Swim With Sharks (Without Being Eaten Alive). I read the book from beginning to the end and applied some of the strategies with my senior. And it worked. At 21, I was already becoming an expert at managing difficult situations and people. And this lesson did pay off beyond expectations. I earned much praise and promotions throughout my career for handling difficult people.

Recently, a friend showed me another interesting book: 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. The preface reflects what we learn in motivation theories under McClelland: that people are motivated by the needs for achievement, affiliation and power. Listening to news, reading a paper or reading about lives of people will show you this in application.

This is how the preface to 48 Laws of Power begins: "The feeling of having no power over people and events is generally unbearable to us-when we feel helpless we feel miserable. No one wants less power; everyone wants more. In the world today, however, it is dangerous to seem too power hungry, to be overt with your power moves. We have to seem fair and decent. So we need to be subtle-congenial yet cunning, democratic yet devious."

Now, that is what the book is all about. It compares the duplicity that is required to play power games successfully to the skills that were needed by courtiers to hold and retain power in the courts of kings and queens. The book takes a look at 48 laws of power, or basic principles and techniques that can be used successfully in day-to-day life.

Now, if you ever come into contact with me, you will begin wondering if I am applying any of these techniques on you. That is only natural because, when a friend introduced this book to me, I started watching his behaviour to see if he is using any of the things in his life.

He was, but as he claimed, not with friends. But I dislike power struggles. And I believe there is too much of them going around for me to bother adding to them. You can see power struggles at home, at work and in public. No wonder too because from the time we are born, that is what we get used to. The infant screams to get what he wants-milk or a change of nappies or to be picked up and held. Toddlers too play power games with parents and elders. So do we all, throughout our lives. In relationships we struggle for power and destroy all the beauty within. In marriages we continue this. At work, with peers, superiors and subordinates we play power games. And most of all, and relevant to this column, in business, you can say it is all about power play. Or may be almost.

So, don't you think you need to learn the Laws of Power? Even if you are not ambitious and want to merely survive, you still need to know these in order to swim with sharks without being eaten alive. Consider it merely a set of laws that enables you to survive and thrive.

And if you are going to use them, don't come out with the fact in public. Do it subtly because as Law 05 says, "So much depends on reputation-Guard it with your life!" Remember there is also a saying about those who live by the sword dying by the sword.

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