{"id":11710,"date":"2025-10-14T05:57:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T09:57:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/how-to-spot-someone-on-a-power-trip-frank-sonnenberg\/"},"modified":"2025-10-14T05:57:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T09:57:04","slug":"how-to-spot-someone-on-a-power-trip-frank-sonnenberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/how-to-spot-someone-on-a-power-trip-frank-sonnenberg\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Spot Someone on a Power Trip \u2014 Frank Sonnenberg"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Some people have big egos<\/a>. They see themselves as superior, but their sense of importance comes more from how they perceive themselves than from how they treat others. In contrast, those on a power trip constantly need to feed their egos \u2014 thriving on control, intimidation, and belittling others \u2014 just to feel important.<\/p>\n

This raises the question: What are they thinking? Or are they thinking at all? Are they driven by results, seeking attention, or simply stroking their ego?<\/p>\n

Power Trip Alert: Red Flags to Watch For<\/h3>\n

A power-hungry person isn\u2019t just confident \u2014 they crave dominance and control, often at the expense of others. You can spot them by their need to micromanage, intimidate, or assert authority in ways that turn leadership into manipulation.<\/p>\n

Here are 25 telltale signs of a power-hungry person\u2026<\/p>\n

Power-hungry individuals:<\/p>\n

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  1. Publicly criticize others, undermining their credibility.<\/li>\n
  2. Exploit their position for personal gain.<\/li>\n
  3. Coerce people into compliance by threatening consequences.<\/li>\n
  4. Leverage power to extract unreasonable concessions.<\/li>\n
  5. Demand people jump through hoops \u2014 or face repercussions.<\/li>\n
  6. Foster dependency<\/a>, making others reliant on them for success.<\/li>\n
  7. Hold the key to others\u2019 needs but let them struggle.<\/li>\n
  8. Keep others waiting to assert dominance.<\/li>\n
  9. Fabricate crises to observe discomfort or reactions.<\/li>\n
  10. Reprimand anyone who challenges them.<\/li>\n
  11. Use threats to enforce obedience.<\/li>\n
  12. Make others wait while tending to personal matters.<\/li>\n
  13. Treat their time as more valuable than anyone else\u2019s.<\/li>\n
  14. Suck up to superiors while belittling subordinates.<\/li>\n
  15. Impose rules<\/a> they refuse to follow.<\/li>\n
  16. Distance themselves from others to maintain a sense of importance.<\/li>\n
  17. Create approval processes that feel like obstacle courses.<\/li>\n
  18. Arrive late<\/a> without explanation or apology.<\/li>\n
  19. Ignore calls or emails without justification.<\/li>\n
  20. Make unrealistic demands with no rationale.<\/li>\n
  21. Prioritize their comfort at others\u2019 expense.<\/li>\n
  22. Procrastinate<\/a> \u2014 then expect others to fix their mess.<\/li>\n
  23. Dismiss basic manners, assuming their position excuses it.<\/li>\n
  24. Vilify those who don\u2019t share their values.<\/li>\n
  25. Cut in line, believing they\u2019re entitled.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Self-Respect \u2014 The Ultimate Form of Power<\/h3>\n

    If you find yourself doing these things \u2014 even occasionally \u2014 ask yourself: What\u2019s motivating my behavior? How would I feel if I were treated this way? More importantly, what am I hoping to achieve?<\/p>\n

    If you think it will make you more effective, it won\u2019t. If you expect others to admire you, you\u2019re mistaken. If you believe it will boost your self-esteem, you\u2019re deceiving yourself.<\/p>\n

    A person who craves power is rarely aware of how much they lose in pursuing it.<\/p>\n

    You can\u2019t lift yourself up by putting others down. While exerting power might make you feel superior, it ultimately erodes trust, respect, and credibility<\/a> \u2014 leaving you isolated. Real strength is rooted in self-respect, not in seeking validation from others. If you\u2019re truly as capable as you believe, you don\u2019t need to prove it to anyone \u2014 just yourself. As Margaret Thatcher said, \u201cBeing powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren\u2019t.\u201d Achieving success says less about you than how you choose to wear it. Just as excess in diet harms the body, a thirst for power corrupts the soul.<\/p>\n

    Do You Know People Who Fit This Bill?<\/h3>\n

    Please leave a\u00a0comment<\/a>\u00a0and tell us what you think or\u00a0share it with someone who can benefit from the\u00a0information.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Check out Frank\u2019s latest book, <\/strong>Values to Live By:\u00a0Know What Matters Most and Let It Be Your Guide<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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    Additional Reading:
    Be Humble: Don\u2019t Let Success Go to Your Head<\/a>
    The Costs of a Big Ego<\/a>
    Is Your Confidence Turning Into Egotism?<\/a>
    Some Folks Think They\u2019re Always Right<\/a>
    How You Handle Success Says a Lot About You<\/a>
    Live with Grace and Dignity<\/a>
    15 Behaviors that Drive People Up the Wall<\/a><\/p>\n

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