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What most people get wrong about power

Sep 14, 2025

"I need to wait to be promoted to have real power and influence."

Sounds familiar?

I used to think the same way. I believed that Directors, Chiefs, and Executives were the only ones with real power and influence, because their opinions carried more weight. (And let's be clear - power is what gives you the ability to influence others. When you have power, people listen.)

My own opinion? Didn’t count.

I was so wrong about that…

Let me share a story that changed how I now look at building power at work.

The day an executive recruiter needed me instead

A few years ago, I met an executive recruiter. Back then, I was trying to move up from my senior leadership role. My company had just gone through layoffs. I felt powerless.

The recruiter held all the cards.

They negotiated my salary and influenced my job title. I landed a great role, but I'll never forget that feeling of being in the weaker position.

Fast forward two years.

Same recruiter, but now a completely different story.

This time, they needed my support. They wanted insider knowledge about one of my consulting clients to help pitch their services.

Suddenly, I was in the power seat.

The funny thing? My job title hadn't changed. I was still working at Director/VP level as a consultant. No fancy new promotion or executive title.

So what was different?

3 power sources that matter more than your title

Here's what I discovered: Power doesn't come only from your title. It also comes from other things most people overlook:

What you know (that others need)
Who you know (that others can't reach)
What you can do (that others can't)

In my case, I had insider knowledge about a company this recruiter desperately wanted to understand. No one else in their network had this information.

That knowledge was my power.

You're sitting on goldmines

Think about your own situation for a moment.

What do you know that your colleagues don't?
Who do you have access to that others need?
What skills do you have that are rare in your team?

These aren't just nice-to-haves, they're your leverage points.

I see so many talented women waiting for a title change to start influencing decisions. Meanwhile, they're sitting on goldmines of knowledge, connections, and expertise.

Your 3-step power audit

Step 1: List three things you know that others regularly ask you about. (Even the "small" stuff counts)

Step 2: Identify one person in your network who others would love to connect with.

Step 3: Notice when someone needs help with something you find easy. That's a skill others value.

The beautiful side effect? When you recognise these power sources, your confidence naturally grows, and you start showing up differently.

Stop waiting for a title to lead

You don't need a fancy title to have power and influence. You already have unique knowledge, connections, and skills that others need.