Career success depends on people's educational credentials, their length of service (job tenure), unfortunately it is still the case on their race, gender, and similarity to those in power, and of course, on their political skills. Job performance matters, but less than most people think.
Jeffrey PfefferThose who have power a) understand that the world is not always a just and fair place and accept that fact, b) understand the bases and strategies for acquiring power, and c) take actions consistent with their knowledge in a skillful way. Skill at anything requires practice, and power skills are no different.
Jeffrey PfefferSo, the three qualities of a workplace that would develop people would be information sharing, investing in the training of the workforce, and giving employees the ability to use their training and information to make decisions.
Jeffrey PfefferWhile it is almost certainly true that leaders ought to eat last, the evidence on the ever-widening difference between CEO and average employee pay and the enormous severance packages leaders obtain even as front-line workers see their economic well-being eviscerated makes a mockery of the idea that leaders do anything other than take care of themselves.
Jeffrey PfefferThe best path to power combines two things: 1) a path that not many are taking and 2) something that you are capable and comfortable with doing.
Jeffrey PfefferDoing the right thing is important, which is where strategy comes in. But doing that thing wellโexecutionโis what sets companies apart. After all, every football play is designed to go for a huge gain. The reason it doesnโt is because of executionโpeople drop balls, miss blocks, go to the wrong place, and so forth. So, success depends on executionโon the ability to get things done.
Jeffrey Pfeffer