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Power and Influence
Book

Power and Influence

The Rules Have Changed

Robert L. Dilenschneider
McGraw-Hill, 2007
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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Well Structured
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Robert L. Dilenschneider gives readers an immediately applicable guide to increasing their influence over others. Not a management handbook per se, this book instead focuses on general principles of human interaction, social awareness, cultural positioning, perspective and strategy. Dilenschneider shares personal stories about interactions with highly influential people such as Henry Kissinger, accounts that vividly illustrate his expertise. That said, even though Dilenschneider claims in his subtitle that “the rules have changed,” many of his rules sound somewhat old-fashioned. Do 21st century business leaders really need to hear that they must adapt to changing technology? Nevertheless, Dilenschneider’s insistence on traditional standards of ethics and courtesy is refreshing. Business interactions would be far more dignified if everyone followed his advice. Thus, getAbstract recommends this book to up-and-comers and others who are looking for something beyond a cutthroat ethic.

Summary

Power in a Changing World

Few people understand that universal principles govern the acquisition, use and keeping of power. Fewer still know how to apply these principles today, as new technologies transform the business world. In the past, society placed limits on how high some people could rise or what they could do given its biased beliefs about race and gender. Today technology limits people.

The new environment has given rise to these 10 new rules for the exercise of power.

1. “Accept, Adapt, and Accelerate – or Atrophy”

Visit an exclusive New York restaurant. There you’ll see executives using technological devices to multitask in ways that would have been unthinkable even 10 years ago. They’re trying to keep up with the flood of communication. Rather than a few letters a day, leaders today expect to receive dozens, even hundreds of e-mails from around the world. They also must keep up with other new modes of communication, such as blogs.

Technology is challenging geographic boundaries that seemed to be immutable. As telecommuting becomes more and more commonplace, people won’t have to flock to the old economic centers. Internationally, workers...

About the Author

Robert L. Dilenschneider is founder and CEO of a public-relations company, and the author of On Power, The Corporate Communications Bible and other business-related books.

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