7 Rules of Power by Jeffrey Pfeffer

Power is built, not granted: get out of your own way, build your network, be visible.

Three takeaways for AI PMs

• Stop apologising for your opinion
• Build a visible brand around one AI judgement call: Pfeffer's point about brand is that nobody can choose what is not in their head.
• Network with the people who hold the budget, generously

Do this Monday

• Before your next AI investment or vendor discussion, write the ten-person list and send one useful, unprompted message to the first name.
• In your next leadership meeting, state your recommendation in the first sentence and delete any disclaimer in front of it.
• Before the end of the month, pick the one recurring AI artefact you will own visibly, an eval review or a cost memo, and put the first one on the calendar.