Checking power at work | Kim Scott

Episode Overview

• The video discusses the immense difficulty employees face when trying to push back against bullying from a person in a position of power, like their boss.
• It stresses the critical importance of creating systems of checks and balances within an organization to mitigate the abuse of authority.
• The speaker argues that no single person should have unilateral decision-making power over hiring, firing, or promotions.
• It reframes the need for these systems not as a lack of trust, but as a proactive measure against the universal principle that "power corrupts."

Key Concepts

• Workplace Power Dynamics
• Bullying by Superiors
• Organizational Checks and Balances
• Unilateral vs. Group Decision-Making
• The Corrupting Influence of Power
• Relationship-Based Leadership

Quotes

• At 00:06 - "But when that bully is their boss or has more power in the organization, it can feel almost impossible for the person to push back." - The speaker highlights how a power imbalance makes it extremely difficult for an employee to confront a bully in a superior position.
• At 00:54 - "You're saying you're doing this because power corrupts." - This provides the core rationale for implementing checks and balances, positioning it as a safeguard against a universal human tendency rather than a personal distrust of managers.

Takeaways

• Implement checks and balances to ensure no single individual has absolute authority.
• Make critical career decisions (hiring, firing, promotions) a group responsibility to diffuse power.
• Acknowledge that systems are needed because power can corrupt anyone, and design your organization accordingly.
• Foster leaders who succeed by building strong relationships, not by dominating their subordinates.