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About this quote

What does it mean?
Lacking power can corrupt behavior just as total power can.
In plain terms
Being powerless can also corrupt people.
What can you take from it?
Corruption happens without power too.

Where it applies

  • organizational behavior
  • social dynamics
  • leadership

Putting it to work

  • building accountability
  • supporting marginalized groups
  • monitoring bias

Questions to consider

  • How does lack of power affect decisions?
  • What safeguards against ethical lapses?

Another view

Powerlessness does not always lead to corruption.

More from Rosabeth Moss Kanter

  1. Everything looks like a failure in the middle.

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