Notice what people do when they think they’ve already won. That’s who they’ll be with power.

When somebody believes the outcome is settled, the effort of behaving well drops away and what is underneath shows. That is why the last minutes of a blowout, or the moment an argument is clearly over, tell you so much. Power does the same job on a longer timescale, because it removes the need to be careful. Watching someone comfortable is more informative than watching them try.

Pay attention this week at the end of lopsided games and finished arguments. Who still shakes hands, who keeps rubbing it in. Then ask the same question about yourself the next time you are winning something easily.