When you are in a position of power, how do you regulate yourself so as to not abuse your power?

You need to keep reminding yourself that the people over which you have power have feelings and rights, too.

you eventually get caught. the short term gain does not outweigh the potential long term loss.

I don’t have any relevant personal experience to share, but this question reminded me of this experiment which coincidentally was conducted by the person who wrote my high school psychology textbook.
[edit] I’ll explain: basically, young, white male college students who volunteered for a “psychology of imprisonment” experiment were chosen at random to be one half prisoners, one half prison gaurds. The “prison guards,” all of whom were average citizens of favorable reputation, took to their roles with tyrannical zeal. It was an extremely controversial (and probably unethical) experiment.

If your character is such that you need to have a “reminder” then it won’t work.

I do think it requires a serious backbone and a serious set of ethical standards to pull this off successfully. I wish more of those in positions of power had both things.

Realizing that those you deal with are human beings like yourself is the best way. Of course, working in security, there are plenty of my co-workers that think the uniform makes them God. I hate arrogant security officers.

My job entails me to enforce the rules of my employer, but I don’t have to be a dick about it.

There’s a saying in film production: the PA you crap on today may be an Executive Producer tomorrow – so watch it!

Make sure you have a spouse, family member, or best friend who can keep your @ss in line

^^Funny to see a mod get modded…

Personally, If I were given a position of high power, the first thing I would do is dissolve the position into multiple ones that have to agree to make a decision before I could be corrupted.

@Sampson no ones above the law ;)

@augustlan good answer, I laughed myself silly, and had to share with Hubby.

You focus on the goals your team needs to achieve and you only ask from them what they need to do in order to achieve these goals.

I have always worked with the aditude that the more authority I have, the more service minded I must become. The customer pays the bills, so the person who meets the customer needs to be supported ans served well by their manager. The more I advance in my career the harder I need to work to make sure everyone along the line has the support they need to support the customer. It’s not about power, it’s about growing customer loyalty by serving them well. How can I expect my front line to treat my customers well if I don’t lead by example?

I trust my family would give me their frank opinion as to my behavor and I would listen to them.

Wow, a mod got modded, that’s a switch.

@evelyns_pet_zebra: Augustinian called me out for a poorly considered reply. I requested that she delete my comment. She then removed her admonition.

Ah, that makes sense. @augustlan is usually pretty level headed. You’d have to be a real SNOT to get her goat, no pun intended.

She was level headed, her chiding was subtle and I had it coming.

@Noel_S_Leitmotiv Lurve for all of that.

I don’t ask anyone to do anything that I am not willing to do myself.

@Blondesjon I don’t ask anyone to do anything that I am not willing to do myself.

That must limit sexual variety to some degree. I can bring a few things to mind that I doubt that you would want to do yourself. But then… ;)

Power is a gift made possible by the trust of others and seeing people as individuals and respecting them and thier contributions produces an inner regulation…I ask myself in their position how would I want to be treated and I remember that their support makes what I do possible. I think it is also important to work as if my existence should cease tomorrow could others pull together and take my place, if the answer is no then I have not spent the quality time to help them grow into their potenial. No one is irreplaceable

It helps to have regulations, which keep you focused; and principle, which keeps you honest.

Keeping a watchful eye on those who you entrust power with is essential.

In order to not abuse your powers, remember that the people below you have the same rights and importance as you are. They maybe your subordinates, everyone including you, must have fair treatment.