Quote from Emily on January 21, 2024, 11:42 pm

I recently realized that there are a lot of factors that determine your power at work/in career development. These could be categorized (not mutually exclusive):

Industry

Generally, some industries are perceived as cool and others not, I think it has a lot to do with money and fame and what's in fashion. For example, in my location, life sciences innovation and tech are very respected, while social services/government jobs are not respected. Because the former signals courage, vision, go-getter attitude while the latter signals bureaucracy, nurturing/warm but not resourceful etc.

Role function

Are you in a supportive role to your coworkers mostly? Are you performing the role functions that are essential to the organization? I remember that Lucio said that generally sales/business development are more powerful because every business needs it. In contrast, R&D, training and development, data analysis roles are supportive and not as powerful (unless your organization by nature also focuses on these and not just making money).

Entry barrier

For example, medical doctors are generally more respected everywhere because it is quite selective to become a doctor. Same for being an engineer, being a professor etc.

Your own personal achievement and rank

Good to be combined with other factors, but if you achieved high you would have star status, which blurs the boundary of all other factors. For example, recently I took notice of an entrepreneur who focuses on mindfulness and created several programs and I think he is by default very high power. If you are just one meditative healer who struggles to make ends meet, then you are not powerful.

If you are a founder of something - you are more powerful. All the more powerful if the thing you founded is successful. Also any original work is awarded - writing/founding etc. etc.

Compensation

This is the money factor. Money = resources = power.

Fame/notoriety 

Same, can cash this out, make more important connections etc.