The longer you’re in power, the more convinced you are you deserve it.
Even if you’ve made many good decisions in the past, it doesn’t mean all your future ones will be as well.
Lord David Owen, a British politician and physician, coined the term ‘hubris syndrome’ in his book “The Hubris Syndrome: Bush, Blair and the Intoxication of Power” (2007).
He argued that some leaders experience personality changes due to power’s “intoxicating” effects.
Here are the symptoms:
– Excessive self-confidence
– Disregard for advice or criticism
– Belief in one’s own infallibility
– Impulsive or reckless decision-making
– A growing disconnect from reality
I’ve met many entrepreneurs ‘intoxicated’ by power.
They’ve made many good decisions as they lead their businesses to success, and they’ve come to believe in their own infallibility.
Power is a powerful addiction — easy to start, hard to quit.
What do you think? Share your opinions in the comments.
Svyatoslav Biryulin
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I help businesses scale fast by creating new markets. Planning a strategic retreat? Need a facilitator who gets results? DM me.
Read also: The Journey Over the Goal. The Thinking Over the Journey
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