7 Chanakya Secrets to Power & Influence (That Even CEOs Use Today)
Riya Kumari | Feb 08, 2025, 23:23 IST
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau, Timeslife )
Power is one of those things we all secretly want but pretend we’re above caring about. Like checking your ex’s LinkedIn or hoping your last text gets a quicker reply than the one before. We act like influence is reserved for politicians, billionaires, or that one guy in every meeting who repeats your idea louder and somehow gets credit for it. But in reality? Power is everywhere. And you are playing the game—whether you know it or not.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who understand power and those who are controlled by it. And the difference between them? Knowledge. Not just information, but understanding—of people, of strategy, of the subtle forces that shape decisions before they’re even made.
Chanakya, the ancient Indian strategist, didn’t just understand power—he defined it. He saw through illusions, played the long game, and understood human nature so well that his insights remain relevant even now, centuries later. His wisdom isn’t just for kings and rulers—it’s for anyone navigating a world where influence matters. Which, let’s be honest, is everyone.
1. Power Resides in Perception
People don’t follow reality; they follow the perception of reality. Chanakya knew that control over perception is control over people. A CEO doesn’t need to know every detail of their company’s operations—only how to project certainty when markets shake. A politician doesn’t need the best policies—only the ability to make people believe they do. And in your own life? The way people see you will shape your opportunities more than your actual abilities. This isn’t about deception; it’s about direction. If you don’t shape your own narrative, someone else will.
2. Power is Not Taken—It’s Given
No one actually takes power. People allow them to have it. Why? Because power is a trade—security for submission, vision for validation, confidence for compliance. Think about the leaders you respect, the people you trust. Why do you follow them? Because they provide something you need. This is how power works. If you want influence, ask yourself: What do I offer that people value? A great leader doesn’t demand control. They make you want to give it to them.
3. Information is the Ultimate Currency
Money loses value. Titles can be taken away. But knowledge? That’s power no one can strip from you.
Chanakya understood this deeply. He believed that knowing more—about people, about situations, about patterns—was the difference between winning and losing. A battle is won before swords are drawn. A negotiation is decided before words are spoken. And in everyday life? The person who listens more than they speak always holds the advantage.
4. The Most Dangerous Person is the One Who is Overlooked
The loudest person in the room is rarely the one in control. The real game is played in silence. Chanakya warned against dismissing the quiet observer. They’re the ones who see what others miss. They’re the ones who understand how things truly work while everyone else is distracted by appearances. This is why, in a world obsessed with being seen, the smartest move is sometimes to disappear. To watch. To understand. And when the time is right—to act with precision.
5. Fear is a Tool—But Never a Crutch
Rulers who governed solely by fear fell as soon as someone more terrifying appeared. Power based only on force is power that won’t last. Chanakya knew that lasting influence isn’t about making people fear you—it’s about making them afraid to lose you. Leaders who inspire, who create dependency through wisdom and guidance, hold power long after threats lose their weight. If people follow you only because they’re afraid, you have control. If they follow you because they believe in you, you have power.
6. The One Who Can Walk Away, Wins
The moment you need something, you lose leverage. Chanakya mastered detachment—not as a philosophy, but as a strategy. The strongest negotiator is the one who can leave the table. The most powerful person in a relationship is the one who doesn’t fear its end. The leader with true authority isn’t the one clinging to their position—it’s the one who can step down without fear because their influence extends beyond their title. If you want power, master the art of not being desperate for it.
7. The Smartest Move is the One No One Sees Coming
Power is lost the moment it becomes predictable. Chanakya never relied on brute force when intelligence would suffice. He knew that the best strategies are the ones people don’t even recognize as strategies. It’s the deal that seems fair but subtly favors you. The decision that looks like compromise but ultimately strengthens your position. The silence that forces the other person to speak first. In life, the most successful people aren’t the ones who chase power. They’re the ones who make power chase them.
Influence is an Art, Not a Title
Power isn’t about position. It’s about presence. It’s about understanding people better than they understand themselves, seeing moves before they happen, and knowing when to act—and when to wait. Chanakya didn’t just study power; he embodied it. And those who understand his lessons don’t need to chase influence. It comes to them naturally.
Chanakya, the ancient Indian strategist, didn’t just understand power—he defined it. He saw through illusions, played the long game, and understood human nature so well that his insights remain relevant even now, centuries later. His wisdom isn’t just for kings and rulers—it’s for anyone navigating a world where influence matters. Which, let’s be honest, is everyone.
1. Power Resides in Perception
See
( Image credit : Pexels )
People don’t follow reality; they follow the perception of reality. Chanakya knew that control over perception is control over people. A CEO doesn’t need to know every detail of their company’s operations—only how to project certainty when markets shake. A politician doesn’t need the best policies—only the ability to make people believe they do. And in your own life? The way people see you will shape your opportunities more than your actual abilities. This isn’t about deception; it’s about direction. If you don’t shape your own narrative, someone else will.
2. Power is Not Taken—It’s Given
Power
( Image credit : Pexels )
No one actually takes power. People allow them to have it. Why? Because power is a trade—security for submission, vision for validation, confidence for compliance. Think about the leaders you respect, the people you trust. Why do you follow them? Because they provide something you need. This is how power works. If you want influence, ask yourself: What do I offer that people value? A great leader doesn’t demand control. They make you want to give it to them.
3. Information is the Ultimate Currency
Outcome
( Image credit : Pexels )
Money loses value. Titles can be taken away. But knowledge? That’s power no one can strip from you.
Chanakya understood this deeply. He believed that knowing more—about people, about situations, about patterns—was the difference between winning and losing. A battle is won before swords are drawn. A negotiation is decided before words are spoken. And in everyday life? The person who listens more than they speak always holds the advantage.
4. The Most Dangerous Person is the One Who is Overlooked
Browse
( Image credit : Pexels )
The loudest person in the room is rarely the one in control. The real game is played in silence. Chanakya warned against dismissing the quiet observer. They’re the ones who see what others miss. They’re the ones who understand how things truly work while everyone else is distracted by appearances. This is why, in a world obsessed with being seen, the smartest move is sometimes to disappear. To watch. To understand. And when the time is right—to act with precision.
5. Fear is a Tool—But Never a Crutch
Fear
( Image credit : Pexels )
Rulers who governed solely by fear fell as soon as someone more terrifying appeared. Power based only on force is power that won’t last. Chanakya knew that lasting influence isn’t about making people fear you—it’s about making them afraid to lose you. Leaders who inspire, who create dependency through wisdom and guidance, hold power long after threats lose their weight. If people follow you only because they’re afraid, you have control. If they follow you because they believe in you, you have power.
6. The One Who Can Walk Away, Wins
Meditation
( Image credit : Pexels )
The moment you need something, you lose leverage. Chanakya mastered detachment—not as a philosophy, but as a strategy. The strongest negotiator is the one who can leave the table. The most powerful person in a relationship is the one who doesn’t fear its end. The leader with true authority isn’t the one clinging to their position—it’s the one who can step down without fear because their influence extends beyond their title. If you want power, master the art of not being desperate for it.
7. The Smartest Move is the One No One Sees Coming
Chess
Power is lost the moment it becomes predictable. Chanakya never relied on brute force when intelligence would suffice. He knew that the best strategies are the ones people don’t even recognize as strategies. It’s the deal that seems fair but subtly favors you. The decision that looks like compromise but ultimately strengthens your position. The silence that forces the other person to speak first. In life, the most successful people aren’t the ones who chase power. They’re the ones who make power chase them.