The WSJ had an interesting piece this weekend about how The Prince had it wrong and nice people are more likely to rise to power.  However, once they get to be powerful, the position changes them to be bad people.  This is known as the paradox of power.

The good news is that nice people are more likely to gain power because people give authority people whom they truly like.  So nice guys finish first!  

The article claims this refutes Machiavellian belief that it is better to be feared than love as a leader.  However, I believe the article overlooks the fact that in the 21st century, we simply live in a democratic, modern society whose corporate and political world are free of violent repercussions for decisions.  Consequently, fear isn’t as much of a factor when deciding who to follow as leader of your organization.  

In the modern day world, people have a choice of who to follow, and so they will of course follow people whom they admire and respect the most.

There is a lot more bad news (summarized below):

• The feeling of power is similar to brain damage.  People with authority tend to behave like neurological patients with a damaged orbito-frontal lobe, a brain area that’s crucial for empathy and decision-making
• Authority makes us less sympathetic to the concerns and emotions of others
  
• People of power spend less time making eye contact with people of no power
• Power makes it easier to rationalize away the ethical lapse
  

The best remedy they say is transparency and having the leaders know they are being monitored whether it be by regulators, a strong board, elections, or perhaps just good advisors and friends.