An eye-opening look at the true nature of power. In a book based on her popular class at Stanford's GSB, Gruenfeld reveals what we get wrong about power, why we have more than we believe, and how we can learn to use the power we have, better, by borrowing from the techniques of actors.Like actors, we all make choices about how to use the power that comes with our given circumstances. But as humans, we harbor misconceptions about how power actually works. Often, we feel powerless when we are not, and assume we need more power to achieve our goals in life. In reality, we often have more power than we realize, and success in life depends not on how much power we have, but on how we choose to use it. It's easy to believe that acting with power means commanding the room and trying to dominate in every interaction. But this too is mistaken. Often, these aggressive kinds of power moves show weakness, not strength. And sometimes using power well means stepping out of the spotlight instead of trying to steal the show. It's hard to get comfortable with the roles we play in others' lives. Some of us always crave a bigger part, while many of us feel like imposters in the shoes we are already wearing. Acting with Power inspires us to show up as the best, most effective version of ourselves, in any role, on any stage. Readers will learn: • What power is, what it isn't, and why the difference matters • Why power is as much about connection as it is about control • How to read a room and figure out where you fit in and how to stand out • Techniques for getting "in character" in a new role while still being yourself • How to manage performance anxiety and be comfortable owning the room • When and why power corrupts, and how to disarm a bully • Why our actions matter when someone else is the target of abuse • How create cultures in which abuses of power are not tolerated • How great leaders can get the right people in the big roles and inspire their powerful performancesEveryone knows what it means to use power badly. This is a book about what it means to use power well.