Have you ever struggled with using the power of your position?

Our reader poll today asks: Have you ever struggled with the right way to use the power of your position?

– Never — I’ve always wielded power very responsibly: 22%
– Sometimes — I’ve made an occasional mistake: 72%
– Often — I have trouble wielding power appropriately: 4%
– All the time — I tend to abuse the power of my position: 1%

The Perils of Power. Being in a leadership role brings great responsibility with the power that comes along with it. While you might not abuse your power on a regular basis, even one small slip can be devastating. To avoid those issues, be aware of the major power mistakes you can make and actively avoid them. Put policies, practices, processes, and procedures in place to maintain fairness and prevent overstepping your bounds. It only takes one bad decision to change people’s perceptions of you and see you as a power-hungry tyrant.

Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below!

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 200,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.