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Power & Status | Dominance & Prestige
THE THOUGHT
Two kinds of power walk the world: the North Wind and the Sun.
On a cold day, the two friends decided to settle an ancient argument about who held the greater power. A traveler walked the path below, and on his shoulders lay their opportunity. Whoever could strip the man’s cloak would prove the stronger.
The Wind attacked first, fierce and relentless. He summoned every gust and blast, determined to strip the man's cloak. Yet the harder he blew, the tighter the traveler gripped his cloak.
Then the Sun took his turn. Without force or fury, he simply began to shine. Steady warmth spread across the man's back. The day grew pleasant, the man's shoulders relaxed. Without thinking, he removed his cloak.
The Wind demanded surrender. The Sun turned surrender into relief.
So goes Aesop's tale.
But I wonder: what could the wind do if not blow? What could the sun do if not shine?
The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
THE DIVE
The Two Faces of Power
Dominance and prestige represent two pathways to social status with very different consequences.
Dominance seeks power through intimidation and control: the boardroom bully, the driver cutting in traffic, the colleague claiming undeserved credit. It creates standing through fear.
Prestige earns respect through competence: the surgeon others consult, the engineer whose code everyone studies, the teacher students remember decades later.
Both strategies have evolutionary roots. Dominance is our primate inheritance of power through force. Prestige evolved as authority built on knowledge others wanted to adopt.
In the study Two Ways to the Top, psychologists Joey Cheng and Jessica Tracy observed participants emerging as leaders. They noted that both pathways proved effective at gaining influence, yet produced different ecosystems. Dominance breeds compliance without loyalty. Prestige generates voluntary deference.
Prestige is not always the winner. In crisis, groups turn toward dominance. Churchill’s wartime leadership showed this, marked by certainty and forceful direction when collaboration felt too slow. Behaviors that erode trust in stable times can rally people in emergencies.
Cross-cultural research shows the balance between power shifts with context. In authoritarian cultures, dominance is tolerated and even respected. In egalitarian societies, prestige carries greater weight. The strategies that succeed are shaped not only by personality but by culture.
Tech founders like Steve Jobs exemplified strategic switching. With investors, they relied on dominance, projecting unwavering vision. With engineers, they built credibility through deep product knowledge and respect for expertise. The most effective leaders know when to switch.
The pathway we choose reveals how we read situations and view others. Are they threats to be subdued or resources to be cultivated?
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THE PRACTICE
Status Check
How do you seek to influence? Watch your patterns. They reveal how you unconsciously navigate status.
Observe the dominance moves. The slight interruption that claims conversational territory. The correction that establishes your expertise publicly. The dismissal of an idea before it is fully heard.
Notice the prestige impulses. The pause that creates space for others. The question that elevates someone's thinking. The moment you acknowledge what you don't know.
Both pathways serve us. Dominance feels immediately powerful, cutting through confusion when decisions need speed. Prestige requires patience and vulnerability but builds relationships that make future influence possible.
The deeper question is not necessarily which path you choose, but why it is chosen.
Are you responding to the situation’s needs, or defaulting to what feels safe? And when others interact with you, do they grip their cloaks tighter, or feel safe enough to let them fall?
NOTEWORTHY
The Status Game by Will Storr – Explores how humans compete for status through dominance, prestige, and virtue in modern life.
The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle – Reveals how prestige-based leadership creates high-performing teams versus dominance-driven environments.
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek – Explains why servant leadership builds loyalty while dominance tactics erode trust.
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