48 Laws of Power - Law 1 - Never Outshine your Master

Personality Development

Introduction

In this series of posts, I am going to write about the 48 different laws of power that are discussed in a book called “48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene. This book is one of the classic and a bestseller. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the dynamics of powerful people, how power games are being played, and how to navigate it safely.

Whether you realize or not, power games are being played in every part of your life. Politics is something you cannot avoid either in your personal life or your professional life. Also sure that, you will be part of the game whether you want to play or not. Either you don’t realize that you are in the game or just being passive in the game, you will be manipulated by the people in power and will be taken for granted and crushed or pushed aside without any mercy.

So it is better to be an active spectator or an active player in the power games that are being played around you to make sure that you safeguard your interests and position. Don’t be naive in thinking that all the people you meet and work are good and acting in your best interest. They are not and it is your responsibility to save yourself from other others.

The first law that we are going to look at in this post is “Never outshine your master”

Master, here refers to anyone who has more power than you and you had to depend on them for your existence. It could be your boss, superior or peer in your work environment, or a person who you look up to in your personal life.

In your quest to impress them, don’t flaunt your talents too much. Instead of winning their hearts and favor, you will end up instilling fear and insecurity which will backfire and end up sabotaging your promotion of a deserved pay rise. Masters always wish to be brilliant and superior to you no matter what.

There are a couple of rules in using this law

  • Sometimes, just by being your usual self without you making any special effort to showcase your talent, you might end up outshining your master. In such circumstances, you should tone down your talents and make yourself invisible. Please remember that your master always prefers to appear more brilliant and superior to you no matter what.

  • Just because you are in good books of your master, don’t take your position for granted and act crazily. The sole reason why you exist where you are is because of master favoring you. If you take the position to your advantage and do something that upsets or instills fear in your master or hurts his position among his peers, then you will quickly fall out of his favour. It takes just one mistake to destroy all the goodwill that you have earned over the years.

Now knowing the dangers of outshining the master, there are ways you can use this to your advantage.

  • Always butter up your master. Sometimes outright flattery would work but that will be obvious for your peers to spot.
  • Make some harmless mistakes and reach out to your master for his help. Masters love to help, guide, and mentor their subordinates. That will boost their ego and will make them superior and secure.
  • Even it is your idea that earns the appreciation, make it public that it was your master’s idea or at least give enough credit to him and appreciate his guidance.

There are a couple of ways to play this game.

  • If your master is a fading star and you feel that you are more brilliant than him, deserve the authority and you have full backing from the higher-ups, then don’t show any mercy in destroying him. Show your full potential, be passionate about what you do, and don’t worry about the consequences.
  • If your master is already in a downward spiral, then you don’t have to do anything and just let nature take its course. Done be intentional in your actions to destroy him as it may look cruel.
  • If your master is firm and playing to his strength, then there is nothing much that you can do. Just hold your position, keep exceeding his expectation, and play the waiting game. You will get your chance one day to rise and conquer.