Law 16: Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor; The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Photo By Mubashir Ali

In the world of power, presence and absence are two sides of the same coin. When you’re present, you command attention and overshadow everyone else. But if you overdo it and become too common, people will stop paying attention to you and you’ll lose respect and power. This is where absence comes in. By disappearing at the right moment, you can preserve and enhance your status.

There are a few ways to use this law. One way is to create an air of mystery around yourself. If you’re always available and in the spotlight, people will eventually get used to you and take you for granted. But if you disappear for a while, they’ll start to wonder where you went and what you’re up to. This will make you more mysterious and intriguing, and people will start to see you as more powerful.

Another way to use this law is to create suspense and anticipation. If you’re always around, people will know what to expect from you. But if you disappear for a while, they’ll start to wonder what you’re up to. This will create a sense of suspense and anticipation, which can be very powerful.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say you’re a celebrity. You’re always in the spotlight, and people are always following you around. You’re constantly giving interviews and making public appearances. After a while, people start to get used to you and take you for granted.

One day, you decide to take a break from the spotlight. You disappear for a few weeks. When you come back, people are surprised and happy to see you. They’ve missed you, and they appreciate you more than ever. You’ve also had a chance to recharge your batteries and come back to work with a fresh perspective.

So, here are some tips for implement the 16th law of power in life:

• Know when to withdraw. Don’t disappear too often or for too long, or people will forget about you. But if you disappear at the right moment, it will create a sense of mystery and intrigue.
• Create suspense and anticipation. Don’t tell people where you’re going or what you’re up to. Let them wonder and speculate. This will make them more interested in you.
• Come back strong. Know when to withdraw. Don’t disappear too often or for too long, or people will forget about you. But if you disappear at the right moment, it will create a sense of mystery and intrigue. For example, if you’re always the life of the party, people might start to take you for granted. But if you disappear for a while, they’ll start to wonder what you’re up to and miss your presence. When you come back, they’ll be more excited to see you and you’ll seem even more interesting.
• Create suspense and anticipation. Don’t tell people where you’re going or what you’re up to when you disappear. Let them wonder and speculate. This will make them more interested in you and eager to see you again. For example, you could post a cryptic message on social media or tell your friends that you have a “big surprise” in the works.
• Come back stronger than ever. When you do come back, make sure you are even more powerful and impressive than before. This will reinforce your status and make people even more interested in you. For example, you could have achieved a major goal in your absence, or you could have learned new skills or gained new knowledge.

Here are some additional tips:

• Be strategic about when you disappear. Don’t just disappear randomly. Choose a time when your absence will have the most impact. For example, if you’re in the middle of a big project, disappearing for a few weeks could make your team panic and lose faith in you. But if you disappear right before a major deadline, your team will be more likely to step up and take on more responsibility.
• Be mysterious about your absence. Don’t tell people where you’re going or what you’re up to. Let them wonder and speculate. This will make them more interested in you and eager to see you again. However, don’t be too mysterious. If you keep people in the dark for too long, they’ll start to lose interest.
• Make a grand entrance when you return. When you do come back, make sure you are even more powerful and impressive than before. This will reinforce your status and make people even more interested in you. For example, you could host a big party or give a presentation about your new achievements.

The 16th law of power is a powerful tool, but it can be dangerous if used unwisely. If you disappear too often or for too long, people will forget about you. And if you come back too weak or too late, you will have lost your power. So, use this law wisely and sparingly. And when you do use it, make sure you do it right.