What power means

The word "power" is ringing in my ears tonight, perhaps because I just wrapped up a 14-hour day spent cogitating on the topic.

Ron Brown, diversity consultant to corporate powerhouses like McDonald's, Procter & Gamble and General Electric, picked the word apart letter by letter over the course of the day at the leadership training program I'm attending.

So it speaks only to my slowness of mind that I still fail to grasp fully what it means.

Asked for a definition during the session, I said power is control over my own destiny. Sure, power for others may mean control over others' destiny. Not for me. Power is freedom. Power is independence. Power is the ability to call my own shots.

According to Brown, these are the three tenets of power:
1. it drives every organization;
2. it is achieved and maintained through politics;
3. it is attained by convincing others of our loyalty to the organization.

He defines power as the ability to impose one's will upon others. Like by taking their lunch money. Or demanding a seat upgrade on the airplane. You must practice and hone that ability to impose so that when the demand truly matters—say, for a raise or a promotion—you impose with ease.

Is he right? How do you define power?