“Power and the abuse of power are not the same thing.”
Many leaders are familiar with this dilemma: Decisions must be made, yet the fear of rejection, conflict, or losing support often leads to power not being exercised. At the same time, power is frequently confused with the abuse of power. The result is unproductive meetings, unspoken conflicts, and organizations that fall short of their potential. This is the view of management consultant Dr. Peter Modler.
“Power becomes productive when it has clear boundaries.”
For decades, he has been exploring leadership, responsibility, and power—not only as a management consultant but also as a coach and author. In a conversation with Georgiy Michailov, he explains why many leaders misunderstand their role, why decisions alone have no effect, and why leadership always requires a willingness to make unpopular decisions. In doing so, he demonstrates what is more important than authenticity and why professional leadership is impossible without the conscious exercise of power. Georgiy Michailov and Dr. Peter Modler also discuss the difference between principles and rules, how to deal with the abuse of power, and why disobedience is a leader’s highest duty.
*Video only in German
SMP LeaderTalks
