Little Belle's Mama

Power trips are as old as power itself. The moment someone feels they have a little more say, control, or authority than others, the temptation to misuse it can creep in. Sometimes it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s blatant. But wherever it shows up—at work, in schools, online, in politics, or in day-to-day life—it leaves a trail of damage behind.

At Work: When Leadership Turns Controlling

We’ve all worked with or under someone who seems more focused on control than collaboration. Maybe it’s a manager who insists on approving every minor decision, not because it helps the project, but because they need to feel involved. Or a team lead who gives vague instructions, then criticizes others for “not doing it right.” This isn’t leadership. It’s power tripping.

Sometimes it’s higher up the chain—senior management who invite input in meetings, only to do the exact opposite later. They nod through feedback but stick rigidly to what they already believe, ignoring frontline realities. It feels performative, and over time, employees stop speaking up. Trust erodes. The team realizes their voices don’t actually matter, and they check out—not just mentally, but emotionally.

HR can also become part of this power game. In theory, they’re meant to support employees and protect fairness. But in practice, HR sometimes sides automatically with management, dismissing complaints or subtly pressuring employees to stay silent to “keep things professional.” When HR prioritizes company image over people’s experiences, it creates a culture where toxic behavior is tolerated—as long as it doesn’t make headlines. Employees feel abandoned, even gaslit, by the very department meant to protect them.

The workplace becomes tense in these environments. Talented employees stop taking initiative. Meetings feel more like performance tests than problem-solving spaces. Innovation suffers. And while the power-tripper may feel in control, the team quietly disengages.

But not all power comes from title. Sometimes it’s a senior employee, not in management, who acts like a gatekeeper—refusing to help newcomers or undermining colleagues to maintain their “expert” status. That’s a quieter power trip, but it stings just as much.

In Schools: The Playground of Hierarchy

School is one of the first places we experience power—sometimes unfairly. Think about the class monitor who takes pleasure in reporting classmates for small mistakes. Or the teacher who shames a student publicly rather than guiding them privately. These small dynamics can shape a child’s self-worth for years.

Even students can power trip among themselves. The popular kid who decides who’s “in” and who isn’t. The senior who bullies juniors under the excuse of “tradition.” These actions may seem like harmless rites of passage, but they often reflect a deeper insecurity—proving dominance to hide vulnerability.

Over time, students exposed to these dynamics either shrink into themselves or become power trippers too, continuing the cycle.

Politics: The Stage for the Biggest Power Plays

Few arenas reveal power tripping more dramatically than politics. Elected officials who begin as “servants of the people” sometimes start to believe they are above the people. Power becomes a weapon—used to silence opposition, bend laws, or avoid accountability.

Sometimes it’s overt: controlling media, undermining democracy, suppressing dissent. Other times, it’s subtle—stalling reforms that would threaten their influence or favoring loyalty over competence in public appointments.

In democratic systems, these behaviors erode trust. In authoritarian ones, they can cost lives.

The tragedy is that politics is supposed to be about service. But when power is seen as status instead of responsibility, leadership becomes self-serving. And that always ends badly—for citizens, communities, and countries.

Social Media: Influence Without Accountability

In the digital age, power tripping found a new home: social media. Here, people can gain power not through merit or leadership, but through visibility. Followers become a form of currency. With enough of them, some start believing they’re untouchable.

You see it when influencers mock critics instead of engaging them. Or when someone “cancels” a person over a mistake, not to raise awareness, but to gain clout. Even on smaller scales, users create echo chambers where dissenting opinions are ridiculed, not discussed. These are all versions of power trips, just dressed up in hashtags.

The harm here is subtle but wide-reaching. It stifles honest dialogue. It pressures people to perform perfection. And it replaces real influence with performative outrage.

Everyday Life: The Small Acts That Reveal a Lot

Power tripping isn’t limited to titles or platforms. It shows up in the smallest everyday moments. A driver who speeds through traffic but honks at others. A parent who demands respect but gives none. A customer who talks down to waitstaff. These moments aren’t just bad manners. They’re micro-expressions of dominance.

Even in relationships, power trips can sneak in. A partner who uses silence as punishment. A friend who guilt-trips rather than communicates. These dynamics don’t always look like control, but they are.

What makes these moments dangerous is how easily we normalize them. “That’s just how he is.” “She’s just stressed.” But repeated often enough, they create emotional harm, resentment, and eventually, distance.

Why People Power Trip

Understanding the why is just as important as seeing the what. Most people don’t power trip because they’re evil. They do it because they’re afraid. Afraid of being overlooked, challenged, disrespected, or vulnerable. Power gives a false sense of security—a way to control the world when they can’t control how they feel.

The more people comply, the more the power-tripper believes they’re right. It becomes a loop: control breeds validation, which breeds more control.

Ironically, the strongest people—emotionally and mentally—don’t need power trips. They know how to lead without bullying, how to disagree without shaming, and how to hold power lightly.

Is There a Good Side to Power Trips?

You might wonder: can there ever be a positive side to power tripping?

Strictly speaking, a “power trip” always implies misuse. But there is a good side to power, when it’s used consciously. A teacher with authority can create a safe, structured space for learning. A manager with influence can amplify their team’s strengths. A political leader can push through reforms that benefit millions. A social media voice can advocate for change. Power itself isn’t the enemy. Ego is.

When power comes with humility, it uplifts. When it comes with fear, it oppresses.

Breaking the Cycle: How to Handle It

If you’re on the receiving end of a power trip, it’s easy to feel helpless. But there are ways to respond—calmly, smartly, and without replicating the behavior.

1. Set boundaries. Whether it’s a controlling coworker or a pushy friend, boundaries let them know their behavior has limits.
2. Call it out—when safe. Sometimes, naming the behavior (without attacking the person) helps break the illusion of power.
3. Don’t mimic it. One of the traps of power abuse is that it’s contagious. Resist the urge to “get even” by doing the same thing.
4. Lead differently. If you’re ever in a position of power, remember how it felt when someone misused theirs. Do the opposite.

The Real Power is in Restraint

Power tripping, in all its forms, is a performance of control. But real strength doesn’t need to dominate. It listens, uplifts, and knows when to step back. Whether in boardrooms or classrooms, on timelines or sidewalks, the people we respect most are rarely the loudest. They’re the ones who use their power not to shine alone, but to light the way for others.

So the next time someone flexes authority in an ugly way, remember: power isn’t what you take. It’s how you use what you have—and who you become in the process.