Power

The Pie We All Want to Control

July, 2026

Power is woven into the fabric of leadership. We encounter it in every meeting, every project update, and every "yes" or "no" we deliver. We crave it for the security it provides, yet we resist it when it’s held over us.

But power itself isn’t the problem; the problem is our primal instinct to hoard it.

Most of us view power as a fixed pie. We fear that by sharing our portion, we are left with less. This "zero-sum" mentality creates a maze of inequality where some are handed shortcuts while others face endless dead ends. In this model, power is weaponized for self-preservation, and the result is a culture of silos, distrust, and stagnation.

What if we turned the pie upside down?

True leadership begins when we realize that power is not a finite resource to be guarded, but a tool to be stewarded. When wielded wisely, power is not a zero-sum game, it is a multiplier. When we give it away to uplift others, the pie doesn't shrink; it expands for everyone.

The Mandela Model: Reshaping the Hierarchy

Nelson Mandela provides the ultimate case study in power redefined. After 27 years of imprisonment, he emerged not with a desire for vengeance, but with a vision for reconciliation. When he became president in 1994, he held the absolute power to flip the hierarchy and punish his oppressors.

Instead, he chose to reshape the dynamic entirely.

Mandela’s genius lay in his restraint. Through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he invited former opponents to the table, choosing redemption over retribution. This wasn’t a sign of weakness; it was the highest form of power. He understood that true transformation doesn't come from seizing control, but from leveraging authority to create a more just and inclusive world.

The Leadership Challenge

As leaders, we must ask ourselves: What kind of power do we seek? One that dominates and divides, or one that makes space for others at the table?

The goal of leadership is not to hold the biggest slice of the pie.

The goal is to use the portion you’ve been given to ensure that everyone has a path through the maze. When we move from self-preservation to stewardship, power stops being a wedge and starts being a force for collective good

As you move through your week, take a moment to look at the 'pie' on your desk.

Are you guarding your slice, or are you looking for ways to make it bigger for everyone?

How will you use your power today?

Todd Rutkowski

Read more reflections like “Power: The Pie We All want to Control " in my free ebook called “Lifelines.” Get Lifelines