CEO Coaching: The Raw Lust for Power

I recently heard David Brooks use this phrase. He was talking about a politician—you can take your pick—but the phrase applies to far too many leaders in both politics and business.

Take the CEO I knew who lasted exactly one year in the chair. His motivation? Ego. Not customers. Not employees. Not even shareholder value. He just wanted to sit in the big seat. Call it a lust for power… or maybe just a lust for admiration. Either way, it ended the way it usually does—with a mess and a new CEO search committee.

Now, let’s be honest: I’ve met few senior leaders who weren’t interested in climbing the ladder. But there’s a line—when ambition bulldozes over integrity and the Golden Rule, you don’t get a high-performing company; you get a hot mess (and probably a PR crisis).

Here’s the truth: values are a choice. Forget what people say—watch what they do. If you’ve ever stepped on one of your own values, you know it hurts. Like a psychological electric shock. That’s how you know it’s real. Can you change your values? Yes, but it requires grit and you’ll bang into the guardrails a few times before you find the center line.

Are there reluctant leaders with little ambition who get promoted because they just do the right things? Yes. I’ve met a few unicorns like that. They still accept the corner office, but usually because they see a chance to make a bigger impact. Most leaders, however, are driven by some cocktail of ambition and mission. Nothing wrong with that—until ambition becomes the main ingredient.

So, if you’re still climbing, ask yourself: Why? If you’re already at the top, ask yourself: Am I drunk on my own power? Because once you start breathing your own exhaust, you’re not a leader anymore—you’re a liability.

Please share
Twitter
Follow Me
Tweet
LinkedIn
Share