Hard Work Isn’t Enough: MasterClass Launches The Power Playbook

MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best, announced The Power Playbook: How to Win at Work, featuring bestselling author, power expert and Stanford Graduate School of Business professor Jeffrey Pfeffer. Known for his provocative research and straight-talking approach to organizational dynamics, Pfeffer, with more than 40 years of experience, exposes the hidden rules of power—what it takes to rise, why good intentions aren’t enough and how to wield influence to drive change. The class is available now exclusively on MasterClass, where subscribers have unlimited access to all 200+ instructors with an annual membership.

Through candid storytelling and decades of research-backed insights, Pfeffer shows members how power—not hard work—is the biggest driver of success. The class reveals the real behaviors that lead to influence, including why first impressions carry more weight than credentials, why flattery is an underrated superpower and how remote workers can still stay visible and indispensable. Members will learn how to build a power map within their organization, shape their personal brand and master the art of managing up. Pfeffer shares how bold moves—like bypassing the chain of command or unapologetically promoting your work—can change the course of a career, and shares examples of real students and professionals who have risen by breaking rules and rewriting expectations.

Key lessons include:

• Overcome impostor syndrome by acting the part until you become it. Pfeffer tells members that confidence is a behavior, not a personality trait. When we act as if we belong in the room, others will believe it too.
• Make a strong first impression because you won’t get a second chance. Pfeffer shares with members how to take control of their presence—from posture and eye contact to tone and wardrobe—whether they’re walking into a meeting or showing up on Zoom.
• Promote yourself because no one else will. Pfeffer pushes members to talk about their contributions, especially in remote settings. He reframes “bragging” as informing others of their accomplishments, reminding them that it’s not their boss’s responsibility to know what they’ve done, it’s theirs.
• Stop trying to be liked and focus on being effective. Pfeffer challenges the belief that likability leads to success, arguing instead that prioritizing being liked often holds people back and can lead to indecision, avoidance and staying silent when it matters most. He encourages members to make bold choices, take up space and speak with conviction.

“If you think hard work, loyalty and waiting your turn will get you promoted, you’re wrong,” Pfeffer said. “If you don’t understand power, people less talented than you will take your promotion, influence your career and determine your future. In this class, I will teach members about the world as it is, not how they would like it to be.”