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The POWER PRINCIPLE: INFLUENCE WITH HONOR
The principles you live by today create the world you live if you change the principles you live by, you can change your world.
In the life-changing tradition of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Power Principle teaches the core principles that dramatically affect our careers and our lives. Dr. Blaine Lee, an extraordinary teacher, shows how principle-centered power is the ability to influence others' behavior, not to control, change, or manipulate it. Power is something other people feel in your presence because of what you are as well as what you can do, what you stand for, and how you live your life. When you honor others, they will honor you. Lee shows you how to overcome powerlessness, create legitimate power and influence with honor, and create a legacy that will outlast you in the lives of the people you care the most about.
In the life-changing tradition of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Power Principle teaches the core principles that dramatically affect our careers and our lives. Dr. Blaine Lee, an extraordinary teacher, shows how principle-centered power is the ability to influence others' behavior, not to control, change, or manipulate it. Power is something other people feel in your presence because of what you are as well as what you can do, what you stand for, and how you live your life. When you honor others, they will honor you. Lee shows you how to overcome powerlessness, create legitimate power and influence with honor, and create a legacy that will outlast you in the lives of the people you care the most about.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 1997
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407 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 15, 2014
This book talks about three types of power: coercive, utility and honor and how a person can influence others using each of the three powers and the results one will get in different situations/places. Blaine explains each power with descriptive sometimes even personal examples making the book very easy and interesting to read. I loved that he uses Gandhi as the ultimate example of a true leader, someone who shaped history by always acting in honor and integrity; always true to himself. We also get guidance on how to identify each power and principle and how one can change to become a better person leading based on the principles of honor instead of fear. I definitely recommend this book!
December 19, 2025
When a friend gave me The Power Principle: Influence with Honor, I thought it was strange. I’m not a regular reader of “leadership” books and the idea of “power” (despite being aware of different types of power and its positive uses) usually sends up a “red flag” or two in my mind. Further, I’m not a consumer of “best-sellers” and the foreward by the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People did nothing to prioritize reading this volume. So, though I never look a gift book in the index, this one dropped to the bottom of my “to read” pile(s). Imagine my surprise when I decided to deal with it and found that I’m genuinely impressed by it.
Oh, The Power Principle: Influence with Honor is the typical “leadership” book replete with oft-repeated (possibly apocryphal) anecdotes and axiomatic assumptions. True, the book is filled with lists (such as 5 results of coercion (p. 68), 5 actions which diminish legitimate power (p. 107), 10 suggestions for when you are being coerced (pp. 282-284), 5 stages of employee life (p. 287), and 6 activities for reshaping one’s own thinking and behavior (p. 300)) and diagrams (such as choosing to be powerless (p. 21), the power process (p. 112), and the power process (revisited—p. 325)). It even has a significant assessment instrument for determining your personal power index (pp. 201-204) to go along with the standard questions for further evaluation and action at the conclusion of each chapter.
Yet, what makes this volume so attractive to me is the fact that it is not about getting things done in a hurry. It does not sacrifice quality and integrity on the altar of efficiency like so many “management/leadership” volumes. Rather, it emphasizes personal growth and transformation in order to focus on “What can we do and be together?” (pp. 100-101) It identifies a rather problematic use of power common in corporations where managers “do to” rather than “be with” their colleagues (p. 137). And if there is anything that is more applicable in the accelerating change in our world than the following suggestion, I’m not sure what it would be. “Figure that the half-life of your knowledge and information base is two years, and all knowledge is doubling every five years. Take action now to stay on the crest of the information wave.” (p. 287) Only in that way can one enlarge one’s toolbag and be prepared to continue feeling valuable.
Oh, The Power Principle: Influence with Honor is the typical “leadership” book replete with oft-repeated (possibly apocryphal) anecdotes and axiomatic assumptions. True, the book is filled with lists (such as 5 results of coercion (p. 68), 5 actions which diminish legitimate power (p. 107), 10 suggestions for when you are being coerced (pp. 282-284), 5 stages of employee life (p. 287), and 6 activities for reshaping one’s own thinking and behavior (p. 300)) and diagrams (such as choosing to be powerless (p. 21), the power process (p. 112), and the power process (revisited—p. 325)). It even has a significant assessment instrument for determining your personal power index (pp. 201-204) to go along with the standard questions for further evaluation and action at the conclusion of each chapter.
Yet, what makes this volume so attractive to me is the fact that it is not about getting things done in a hurry. It does not sacrifice quality and integrity on the altar of efficiency like so many “management/leadership” volumes. Rather, it emphasizes personal growth and transformation in order to focus on “What can we do and be together?” (pp. 100-101) It identifies a rather problematic use of power common in corporations where managers “do to” rather than “be with” their colleagues (p. 137). And if there is anything that is more applicable in the accelerating change in our world than the following suggestion, I’m not sure what it would be. “Figure that the half-life of your knowledge and information base is two years, and all knowledge is doubling every five years. Take action now to stay on the crest of the information wave.” (p. 287) Only in that way can one enlarge one’s toolbag and be prepared to continue feeling valuable.
March 22, 2012
One of the best kept secrets in management and leadership literature. Blaine discusses leadership because of who/how YOU are, not because of the title on your business card. The bottom line: people follow those with honor and integrity. An all too rare occurrence in business these days...
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
August 28, 2012
Excellent book. Principle-centered leadership is always the best to follow. This book is great for people who want to become inspirational leaders that operate from the perspective of being of service to others.
February 9, 2019
The book discusses the different types of power: coercive, utility and principle-centered. It advocates that honor is power.
“When you choose power over powerlessness, you can predict the results. If you choose based on what you hope to avoid, you are choosing fear and coercive power. If you choose based on what you hope to obtain, your motive is fairness and utility power. But if you choose based on your deepest values, the most worthy principles you know, and the best that is in you, you are choosing based on honor and principle-centered power”
The point of the book is very valuable. It’s relevant and applicable to our daily activities.
However, the book is written in a spoken language with a lot of repetition. The concept is great, the style of writing not so much.
“When you choose power over powerlessness, you can predict the results. If you choose based on what you hope to avoid, you are choosing fear and coercive power. If you choose based on what you hope to obtain, your motive is fairness and utility power. But if you choose based on your deepest values, the most worthy principles you know, and the best that is in you, you are choosing based on honor and principle-centered power”
The point of the book is very valuable. It’s relevant and applicable to our daily activities.
However, the book is written in a spoken language with a lot of repetition. The concept is great, the style of writing not so much.
September 22, 2021
Another great covey read!
March 12, 2009
It's all about Principles - where life is centered!
Read
March 26, 2010The Power Principle: INFLUENCE WITH HONOR by Blaine Lee (1997)
July 30, 2011
Another one of the Franklin Covey core library books. Not too different than the others.
March 29, 2013
An optional-read book on office politics which will happen to you and around you whether you participate in politics or not.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews