Power Intelligence™: Why Understanding Your Power Dynamics Changes Everything
- judyoyedele
- Apr 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 4
Have you ever wondered why some leaders inspire loyalty and innovation while others create environments of fear and stagnation? Why certain executives can drive transformation with seemingly effortless authority while others struggle despite holding the same title?
The answer lies not in what these leaders know, but in how they understand and use their power.
The Paradox of Power in Leadership
Power is the defining element of leadership—the capacity to influence others and create change. Yet for something so fundamental to organizational success, power remains poorly understood and rarely discussed in leadership development.
When was the last time your organization openly addressed power dynamics in a leadership training? When have you personally received feedback specifically about how you use your power?
For most leaders, the answer is never.
This silence creates a dangerous blind spot. As management professor Robert Sutton puts it,
"Because I wield power over others, I am at great risk of acting like an insensitive jerk—and not realizing it."
The Psychological Impact of Power
Research by Julie Diamond of Diamond Leadership reveals a fascinating and sometimes troubling reality: power fundamentally changes how we think, feel, and behave—often without our awareness.
When you step into a position of authority, several psychological shifts begin to occur:
Your self-focus increases while your attention to others decreases
Your sense of control expands, sometimes beyond realistic boundaries
Your empathy and perspective-taking abilities diminish
Your inhibitions decrease, making you more likely to act on impulses
These changes aren't character flaws—they're natural psychological responses to power. The challenge is that they create a perfect storm: when you most need accurate feedback and perspective, you're least likely to seek it or receive it.
The Social Web of Power
Power doesn't just change you; it changes how others behave toward you.
Think about the last time you interacted with someone much higher in rank than you. Did you share your unfiltered thoughts? Or did you carefully consider what to say and how to say it?
People in lower-power positions often:
Filter information they share with those in authority
Hesitate to voice concerns or disagreements
Amplify positive feedback while minimizing negative feedback
Attribute greater significance to a leader's casual comments or actions
This creates an information bubble where leaders receive distorted feedback, reinforcing a false sense of effectiveness or mastery.
Enter the Diamond Power Index®
Understanding these dynamics is why the Diamond Power Index® (DPI) was created. Unlike traditional leadership assessments, the DPI specifically measures how leaders use their power and how their use of power impacts others.
The DPI addresses a critical question: How do we help leaders see their blind spots around power when the very nature of power makes these blind spots harder to recognize?
As a 360° assessment, the DPI captures feedback from multiple perspectives—managers, peers, and direct reports—to create a comprehensive picture of a leader's power usage. It measures both:
Personal Power – The leader's own sense of power, agency, and efficacy
Power Impact – How others experience the leader's use of power
This dual focus reveals critical insights, such as:
Leaders who feel powerless despite having formal authority often use power ineffectively or aggressively
Leaders who don't understand how their behaviors are perceived may inadvertently create toxic environments
Leaders who don't adapt their power style to different contexts struggle to influence across boundaries
The Transformation of Understanding Power
When leaders gain insight into their power dynamics through tools like the DPI, the impact can be transformative:
"I always thought I was creating an open environment for my team to share ideas. The DPI showed me that my quick decisions and direct communication style were actually shutting down conversation. My intentions didn't match my impact." – CMO, Healthcare Organization
"The assessment helped me realize I was using my technical expertise as a shield. When I felt challenged, I'd overwhelm others with details instead of engaging with their concerns. Understanding this pattern has completely changed how I lead my team." – CTO, Financial Services
Why Power Intelligence™ Matters Now More Than Ever
In today's complex business environment, traditional command-and-control leadership is increasingly ineffective. Organizations need leaders who can:
Collaborate across boundaries without relying solely on formal authority
Build psychological safety where innovation thrives
Navigate cultural differences in global workplaces
Adapt leadership styles to different situations and team needs
Create inclusive environments where diverse perspectives are valued
Each of these critical capabilities requires sophisticated power intelligence—the ability to understand and skillfully adapt how you use your power based on context.
Developing Power Intelligence™
Like emotional intelligence, power intelligence can be developed. The journey begins with awareness but extends to active skill building:
Understand your personal power profile through assessments like the DPI
Recognize your triggers that lead to overusing or underusing power
Develop a broader repertoire of power styles beyond your defaults
Create feedback mechanisms that penetrate the power bubble
Practice adapting your approach based on the specific context
The Leadership Imperative
As organizations face increasing complexity and change, the way leaders understand and use power will determine their success. Those who develop power intelligence gain a critical competitive advantage—the ability to create environments where people contribute their best thinking, take appropriate risks, and collaborate effectively.
The leaders who will thrive in the coming decade aren't necessarily those with the most authority, but those who use their power most skillfully to bring out the best in others.
Interested in learning more about how the Diamond Power Index® can transform leadership effectiveness in your organization? Contact us to discuss how this powerful tool can be integrated into your leadership development strategy.
