Jeffrey Pfeffer

The paths to power: How to grow your influence and advance your career | Jeffrey Pfeffer (author of 7 Rules of Power, professor at Stanford GSB)

Source 1462024-06-1314,257 words

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Opening
Lenny Rachitsky (00:00:00): We're going to be talking about how to grow your power. Jeffrey Pfeffer (00:00:02): The reason why you should pay attention to this is because it leads to a lot of good things, salary, getting promoted, being happy in your career, being less stressed. Lenny Rachitsky (00:00:11): You're not describing how the world should work. This is just how it is. Jeffrey Pfeffer (00:00:15): Not only is, but how it was and how it will be....

The opener starts with biography before advice. That order makes the guest legible as a person before the listener extracts tactics.

Low-ego framing
title: "The paths to power: How to grow your influence and advance your career | Jeffrey Pfeffer (author of 7 Rules of Power, professor at...

Uses we/us, uncertainty, or learner framing instead of performing authority.

Accept praise cleanly
Jeffrey Pfeffer (00:02:36): Thank you, Lenny. I am honored that you invited me on. Lenny Rachitsky (00:02:40): I'm even more honored that you decided...

Accepts praise without shrinking from it or turning it into a performance.

Name the work
Lenny Rachitsky (00:00:52): The opening quote to your book that I have here, if you want power to be used for good, more good people need to have power. Jeffrey Pfeffer...

Names a concrete strength, artifact, or contribution instead of offering generic praise.

Return warmth
Lenny Rachitsky (01:19:24): I appreciate that. Jeffrey Pfeffer (01:19:25): I'm happy to spend the time with you, and I hope whoever listens to this will,...

Matches the guest's warmth and keeps the social temperature generous.

Ask with curiosity
Jeffrey Pfeffer (00:51:45): That's a wonderful question....

Turns a moment that could become critique into a question about the guest's thinking.