Supplemental Information

Ideas Addressed in Richard Brislin's The Art of Getting Things Done: A Practical Guide to the Use of Power (New York: Praeger, 1991.)

Personality traits for power acquisition:

• Energy
• Balance
• Congeniality
• Thick skin
• Imperturbability
• Sense of humor
• Loyalty
• Self-insight
• Charisma

Strategies for power acquisition and maintenance

• Working with others who are at a similar or lower level within their organizations
• Working with powerholders
• Dealing with the general public
• Surrounding oneself with positive images
• Learning complex bureaucracies
• Thinking into the future

Tactics in power acquisition and maintenance: gaining support

• Gaining the support of others
• Face-to-face communication with supporters
• Working with subordinates
• Anticipating the nature of the opposition
• Distracting the opposition
• Negotiating with opponents
• Recognizing difficulties and avoiding them