Is that person you trust trustworthy with power

Breaking News — not everyone granted power proves trustworthy of it.

O.K., so not so breaking news, is it? Yet why are some people given authority or allowed to keep it when they prove themselves, and maybe repeatedly, apologetically so, incapable of controlling their mindset, impulses and behavior.

There are different versions of a saying that communicates “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

That quote speaks to the allure of power and how strong it can make us feel and that when there are not limits or boundaries enforced on it, how we as human beings can misuse it or at our worst, abuse trust, power, situations and people.

It is revealing of our character, always. That too is an absolute.

It exhibits weakness of character or bad character.

People might first think of government when the word power is the topic of thought or conversation yet power in business, the workplace, any organization, personal relationships of all kinds and with strangers is where power is often misused, abused and for selfish reasons.

It reveals character deficiencies which do not, will not improve without a plan of response including 1) correction and if necessary, discipline, with each offense 2) ownership of the problem by the person and commitment to developing new skills and 3) ongoing coaching to adjust mindset, decision making and behavior until power is used with responsibility, humility and healthy character.

How often though is the reality a person is trusted and enabled despite behavior that is contrary to being poised, emotionally intelligent, responsible, humble and healthy of psychology and high-level good character?

Rhetorical question, right?

It’s rare, very rare.

People misusing power are overbearing, overwhelming on people around them and not best suited to lead a mission. They are high risk. They might produce quality results, might, yet that likelihood is low.

There are outliers certainly, yet the majority of people misusing power will suffer, as will their goals. They also have a limited shelf life, in the vast majority of relationships.

They also bring with them higher risk of crisis, of differing levels and scandal.

They might go years, regrettably, without suffering due consequences, because oversight is missing and with it, so are enforced limits, boundaries, consequences and critical or helpful critical measures.

What else is missing is either the sustained coaching to help the person in power replace its current interpretations, beliefs and attitudes with healthier, more accurate ones, learning to control impulses and developing healthy, disciplined behaviors that best serve others that have previously been on the sharp end of their sword.

This vast improvement can happen yet too much of the time, a blind eye is turned away from the person creating havoc with the misuse or abuse of power in unprofessional, unethical, immoral regularity.

Enabling.

Not every person in authority and power should have been trusted or continued to be trusted. They are not developed enough in character or responsible in it to be trusted with their position. Yet they remain in their positions to exploit power because the people who can improve the situation see benefit in the status quo and choose to look away, in pretend ignorance.

Additional solutions:

Extend power in small amounts, making people show they are capable of handling it well. Implement oversight. Interview those around them regularly. Correct problems quickly with corrective coaching. Encourage and role model responsible, professional, ethical, moral use of authority. Teach what power is not to be used for (a negative reaction to negative emotions).

Misuse or abuse of power doesn’t have to become status quo, it doesn’t have to harm others, it doesn’t have to become elevated risk for crisis, scandal and reputation misery.

If this all allowed though, it was, is and remains a choice by all associated with the problem, not just the person in question, and it reveals the character of everyone involved, not just the person who is irresponsible with power.

Michael Toebe is a communications solutions leadership practice leader for reputation, crisis and risk for companies and individuals.

He has written for and contributed to Chief Executive, Corporate Board Member and the New York Law Journal. You can also find him on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and a short-segment podcast Communications Solutions Leadership.