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  • July – August 2010
  • Column
  • Harvard Business Review

Powerlessness Corrupts

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter
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Abstract

Powerlessness damages organizations--especially in the middle ranks, says HBR columnist Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Hemmed in by rules and treated as unimportant, people get even with management by overcontrolling their own turf. Kanter urges leaders to give employees opportunities to make meaningful contributions, because small wins along those lines can propel big changes.

Keywords

Employee Relationship Management; Opportunities; Behavior; Motivation And Incentives; Power And Influence

Citation

Kanter, Rosabeth M. "Powerlessness Corrupts." Harvard Business Review 88, nos. 7-8 (July–August 2010).
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About The Author

Rosabeth M. Kanter

General Management
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More from the Author
  • Managing Change & Transformation in 2021 By: Rosabeth M. Kanter
  • Women Entrepreneurs and Tech Ecosystems: One City, Two Realities, and Four Diverse Women By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Joyce J. Kim
  • Video Interview with Maxeme Tuchman By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Joyce J. Kim
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