Here's a test of your current level of influence in your organization. Do people hold up meetings, waiting for you to arrive to make important contributions or interpretations of current events? Do people remember what you say and perhaps quote you in other places and venues? Do people tell your stories and share your lessons as though those stories belong to them? Do people learn things from you that they acknowledge to you and remark about to others? Do others seek out your opinion and ideas or share their agendas and beliefs with you in the hope of influencing you to influence the behavior of others more senior than you?

There are two thoughts that often get lost in the discussion about being effective in building and using influence: Don't assume you have all the right answers-that's why a strong team is essential. And, above all, do the right thing-not only for business or economic impact, but also for social and philosophical implications. Ultimately, power is the ability to influence and facilitate change, and people naturally rally around leaders who do the right thing consistently.

The only way on earth to influence… [someone] is to talk about what he [she] wants and show him [her] how to get it.

Don't ask for power. Seek influence. It lasts longer.