The Psychology of Power: How Authority Changes Behavior in the Workplace

The quarterly performance review meeting at a mid-sized financial firm had just begun. The team sat around the polished conference table, laptops open, eyes scanning for cues from their boss, Mrs. Okafor.

She had recently been promoted to Regional Director, a role she had worked toward for over a decade. At first, her leadership was approachable. She listened, encouraged, and empowered her managers to take ownership. But over time, subtle changes emerged.

Meetings grew shorter, decisions more abrupt. When someone raised a concern, her once-patient demeanor shifted to visible irritation. Team members began speaking less, nodding more, and avoiding direct challenges to her ideas. Productivity didn’t drop immediately, but innovation stalled.
Mrs. Okafor hadn’t changed her values overnight, what changed was her relationship to power.

The Subtle Psychology of Power

From a psychological standpoint, power is one of the most potent social forces in the workplace. While it can be a tool for progress and influence, research shows it can also unconsciously alter how leaders think, feel, and act.

Key Psychological Shifts Power Can Trigger:

1. Decreased Empathy: Studies using neuroscience tools show that people in positions of power may experience reduced activation in brain regions responsible for mirroring others’ emotions.
2. Increased Confidence in One’s Own Perspective: Leaders often believe their view is the most accurate, even without new data.
3. Shortened Patience for Dissent: Authority can subtly make feedback feel like resistance, even when it’s constructive.
4. Risk-Taking Behavior: Elevated power can heighten reward sensitivity, making some leaders more willing to take uncalculated risks.

These changes aren’t always deliberate; they are often automatic psychological shifts that come with positional authority.

Why Authority Changes Behavior

The phenomenon is rooted in several well-documented psychological principles:

1. The Approach/Inhibition Theory of Power

Developed by Dacher Keltner and colleagues,this theory suggests that power activates the brain’s “approach system” this is associated with action, reward, and goal pursuit while dampening the “inhibition system” this is associated with self-control and caution. (Keltner, Gruenfeld, & Anderson, 2003). This can make leaders more decisive but also more impulsive.

2. Social Distance Effect

Power increases perceived social distance between leaders and their teams. The higher the power gap, the harder it becomes for leaders to accurately read the needs and emotions of those below them.

3. Confirmation Bias Amplification

With authority comes more affirmation from subordinates, which can feed into confirmation bias, leaders may only seek or hear information that supports their existing beliefs.

The Organizational Cost of Unchecked Power

When leaders are unaware of these psychological shifts, organizations can suffer. Common ripple effects include:

1. Suppressed Innovation: Team members hesitate to share bold or unconventional ideas.
2. Increased Turnover: Employees leave not because of the work, but because of the culture.
3. Poor Decision Quality: Overconfidence in leadership decisions reduces collaborative problem-solving.
4. Erosion of Trust: Power used without empathy can alienate the very people a leader depends on.

At Netwealth Consult Training and Development, we believe power itself isn’t the problem, it’s how it is managed and channeled.

That why we developed the success clinic that put you on the road map of success where you are built to live a fulfilled life in every aspect of your life whether be your career, finances, and relationship you are always at the top of your game.

 At Netwealth Consult training and development we empower individuals and organizations to achieve sustainable success, fulfilment and prosperity through optimal mental, psychological well-being, we provide comprehensive and innovative solutions through training, education and consulting services to people who are seeking clarity and direction in different areas of their lives