Where Does Real Power Sit?

The DeepMind reshuffle separates operational leadership from scientific influence — map that tension onto roles you know.

Define the axes

Label the two axes below: the horizontal axis runs from Low Operational Power to High Operational Power; the vertical axis runs from Low Strategic Influence to High Strategic Influence. Think about what each axis actually means in a real organisation before moving on.

List your roles

Write five or six real roles from the article or from organisations you know — e.g. CEO, chair, chief scientist, CTO, startup founder. Add at least one role from your own professional experience.

Place every role

Place each role from Step 2 into the correct quadrant. Be precise — a role that is slightly more operational than strategic should sit just right of centre, not in a corner.

High influence

Low influence

Low operational

High operational

Read the pattern

Which quadrant is fullest? Which is emptiest? Look back at Step 3 — does the emptiest quadrant reveal a gap in how your industry thinks about leadership, or just a gap in the roles you listed? Change your answer if you need to.

The quadrant you avoid

Identify the quadrant you personally tend to avoid or find uncomfortable. Write one word that names why — then write one sentence explaining what the DeepMind reshuffle teaches you about whether that avoidance is a strength or a blind spot.

Why that word?

Discuss Tell your partner: which quadrant would you most want to occupy in ten years, and what would you have to give up to get there?

Technology01