Leadership is often about influence, but how you wield power matters. In today’s episode, we explore the evolutionary psychology of leadership and the profound difference between hard and soft power, exploring how leaders can leverage their power to not only get results but also foster long-term motivation in their teams. 

From Florence Nightingale’s impact during the Crimean War to contemporary leadership models, we unpack why certain leadership styles inspire trust and innovation, while others only maintain short-term compliance. Plus, we share strategies for balancing hard and soft power, enabling you to make more informed decisions that drive sustainable success.

As a leader, your approach to power affects your team's engagement and performance. Remember to lead with influence by default, not authority, if you want to build a long lasting motivated, loyal team that drives results.

In this episode:

- The evolutionary psychology behind following power

- Research findings on power bases and motivation

- Practical strategies for balancing hard and soft power

- Key takeaway and CTA

Resources Used in the Episode:

French, J. R. P., & Raven, B. (1959). The bases of social power. In D. Cartwright (Ed.), Studies in Social Power (pp. 150–167). University of Michigan. https://web.mit.edu/curhan/www/docs/Articles/15341_Readings/Power/French_&_Raven_Studies_Social_Power_ch9_pp150-167.pdf 

Wisse, B., Rus, D., Keller, A., & Sleebos, A. (2019). Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it: The combined effects of leader fear of losing power and competitive climate on leader self-serving behavior. The Leadership Quarterly, 30(5), 101313 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334007112_Fear_of_losing_power_corrupts_those_who_wield_it_the_combined_effects_of_leader_fear_of_losing_power_and_competitive_climate_on_leader_self-serving_behavior 

Peyton, T., Zigarmi, D., & Fowler, S. (2020). Examining the Relationship Between Leaders' Power Use, Followers' Motivational Outlooks, and Followers' Work Intentions: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6367254/ 

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