We tend to confuse power with force. Force makes things happen or makes people do what we want but force drains your energy and provides temporary fixes. Power offers clarity about and alignment of our purposes. With power, the right things get done with ease and provides sustainability. There is no force in power.

We want to be powerful leaders, not forceful ones.

Why It Matters

Powerful leadership typically emphasizes influence, inspiration, and the ability to motivate others through vision, charisma, and personal integrity. A powerful leader focuses on building consensus, fostering teamwork, and empowering others to contribute to a shared goal. They often lead by example and encourage others to reach their potential.

Forceful leadership can be characterized by a more aggressive or assertive approach, where the leader exerts control through commands, authority, and sometimes intimidation. While forceful leadership can sometimes produce short-term gains, it may lead to resentment, fear, or passive compliance rather than genuine engagement and innovation from team members.

An effective way to measure the difference between being a Powerful Leader vs a Forceful Leader is IMPACT!

Leadership Insights

A Powerful Leader’s impact = you open people up in your conversation and you notice that they will collaborate and engage with you.

A Forceful Leader’s impact = you close people down in your conversation and you notice their speaking to you is “Vague & Automatic” and they disengage from you.

Leadership Strategy

Over the next week notice your IMPACT on others:

• Notice when you are being a Powerful Leader because you are opening others up.
• Notice when you are being a Forceful Leader because you are closing others down.