The power of saying thank you

Being grateful is one of the best ways to hold on to power that otherwise might slip away

For the past 20 years I've put two ideas about power to the scientific test. The first is Machiavelli's: "It is better to be feared than loved." This thesis has not fared well in studies looking at who rises to power in organisations, schools, communities and military units. It isn't the coercive, manipulative Machiavellian who rises to power. Instead it is the empathetic, generous person who reaches out to others who gains esteem and rises up the ranks.

Lord Acton's observation that "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely," however, is confirmed time and time again. As we enjoy elevated power, we are more likely to eat impulsively, have sexual affairs, violate the rules of the road, lie, cheat, shoplift, take sweets from children and communicate in disrespectful ways.