Power Over Time

Power is often understood as authority. The ability to decide. To approve or deny. To allocate resources. To set direction. In this framing, power is exercised at moments of choice and is visible in outcomes. But power is not held only at moments.It is held across time. When power persists, its effects accumulate. Not just…

Influence is often understood as persuasion. The ability to shape opinions, guide decisions, or move outcomes without formal authority. In this framing, influence appears light, voluntary, and largely benign. But influence changes when it becomes durable. When it persists across interactions, roles, or time, influence stops being episodic. It becomes a condition others must account…