3
OPINION
There can be only one
Power struggles are an inevitable part of leadership, so expect challengers and be ready to defend your seat at the table.
P ower struggles are an inevitable occurrence along the leadership journey. Some usurpers will rise up to challenge your authority and it may present a real threat to your continued leadership in the organization. This can be a particularly difficult situation for the leader as often the greatest challenges come from someone you have grown and developed over the years. You may have a blind spot for this person who has become a bit of a kindred spirit. However, your trust can be misplaced to dire consequences.
Brandon Pinkerton, PE
Even when you do become aware of the impending insurgency, it’s easy to keep ignoring it, because acknowledging the truth means going to war. In a world where we normally try to win together through reasonable compromise, the true leader needs to understand that some battles will require that the winner takes all. The truth is that having a lack of clarity at the leadership position in an organization can lead to an irreparable schism. When these situations develop, you must make the difficult choice to engage in a contest where only one leader comes out alive. Power struggles take an incredible toll on an organization. People take sides, morale declines, culture goes in the garbage, and once sweet relationships become bitter. Even more so, once a
power struggle is allowed to develop, there becomes a point when there will be an inevitable loss of followers. The truths of the present will be lost in the chaos of battle and when it’s over people will feel like winners and losers. Everyone will spin their stories in the aftermath and a new reality will develop in divergent paths. So how should the true leader navigate legitimate threats to authority in the organization? ■ Understand the difference between people challenging you as a leader and outright disloyalty. Just because someone from your senior staff disagrees with you in private, doesn’t mean they are planning a coup. However,
See BRANDON PINKERTON, page 4
THE ZWEIG LETTER APRIL 28, 2025, ISSUE 1583
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