• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI

2

Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 

3

Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis

1

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI

2

Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 

3

Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis
LeadershipPower Sheet

Power Sheet – April 15, 2016

By
Geoff Colvin
Geoff Colvin
and
Ryan Derousseau
Ryan Derousseau
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Geoff Colvin
Geoff Colvin
and
Ryan Derousseau
Ryan Derousseau
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 15, 2016, 10:37 AM ET

Authenticity is Donald Trump’s crowning political strength and his fatal flaw. Those two conflicting aspects of his brief political career are about to crash into each other.

Polling shows that Trump’s strongest attribute among Republican voters is that he “speaks his mind” or “tells it like it is.” In every state that has held a Republican primary or caucus, he holds a huge – excuse me, a “yuuuuuge” – advantage over Ted Cruz among voters who think that’s the most important quality in a candidate; his margins over Cruz by that measure range from 45% to 80%, says polling compiled by the New York Times. Trump’s second-strongest trait is that he’s “outside the political establishment.” On that dimension also he has trounced Cruz, by 30% to 70%, in every state among voters who consider that attribute most important.

Trump has racked up those giant margins among a certain group of voters by being himself. Alone among presidential candidates, he has no stump speech, no mental list of carefully strategized talking points. He just shows up and vents. On many important issues he seemingly doesn’t know what he thinks until he starts talking about it. He sins against political correctness several times every day. He talks like a real person, unfiltered, not like a politician. At a campaign event in Pennsylvania yesterday he asked the crowd, “How’s Joe Paterno?,” apparently unaware that the legendary Penn State football coach died four years ago. But, well, he was being real. That’s why his supporters love him.

The problem, which can no longer be dodged, is that it’s also why most Americans can’t stand him. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that 67% of U.S. adults have an unfavorable impression of him. Some 53% of adults have a “strongly unfavorable” impression; he tops Cruz on that unfortunate measure by 20 points. If Trump gets the Republican nomination, he’ll be the most disliked major-party nominee in at least 32 years.

Not wanting to be “a loser,” Trump is belatedly addressing this problem. In recent weeks he has hired a delegate strategist, Paul Manafort, and a high-level campaign adviser, Rick Wiley. The strategy taking shape will have Trump making a series of speeches on such major issues as the economy and foreign policy. Trump will read these speeches from texts written by professional speechwriters. No ad-libbing. The objective is to recast him among the majority who loathe him by making him sound serious, intelligent, thoughtful.

You can see the problem. He’ll sound just like a politician. He’ll be filtered, careful, the opposite of what his supporters love. His handlers hope they’ll be giving everyone something to like. But psychologists know that as we form judgments about others, negatives are far more influential than positives. It seems possible that Trump’s strategy could disaffect at least some of his supporters while doing little to attract others.

Authenticity is powerful in a leader, for better and for worse. The ideal candidate, unlike Trump, would be authentically serious, intelligent, thoughtful, optimistic, and likable – someone like, say, Paul Ryan. But apparently he’s not an option this year.

You can share Power Sheet with friends and followers here.

What We're Reading Today

Shareholders reject BP CEO's raise 

Shareholders voted against BP CEO Bob Dudley's 20% pay increase for a year in which the company lost $5.2 billion. Some of BP's largest shareholders joined in the 59% "no" vote, which is non-binding. Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said the board will review BP's pay policy and report back to shareholders after discussing it further. BBC

Valeant talks to investment banks about asset sale 

The troubled pharmaceutical company is seeking advice as it considers selling assets to help it service a heavy debt load. Interest in some of its businesses is apparently high. Outgoing CEO J. Michael Pearson and activist board member Bill Ackman say the company is weighing the sale of "noncore assets." Fortune

Microsoft sues the Justice Dept. 

Satya Nadella's company has filed suit over the Justice Department's use of gag orders that bar Microsoft from telling customers when the government gets a warrant to search their emails. Microsoft claims the gag orders are unconstitutional and says the government is exploiting the shift to cloud computing, which makes it easier for authorities to search emails without the owner's knowledge. Justice says it "is reviewing the filing." NYT

The Democratic debate gets heated

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders didn't hold back in last night's debate in Brooklyn, as hostility between the two candidates boiled to the surface. Sanders said he's doing something radical by telling Americans "the truth." Clinton attacked his stance on breaking up big banks without any clear plan for doing so. The heated exchanges highlight the importance of Tuesday's New York primary, which Clinton hopes will end any remaining chance for Sanders, who desperately needs a strong showing to continue his underdog run. Washington Post

Building a Better Leader

56% of hiring managers have caught a lie on a resume

What the candidate lies about determines whether the employer may look the other way. Fibbing about year of graduation might be okay; about the school from which the candidate graduated, no.  Fast Company

74% of voters support requiring employers to provide... 

...paid parental leave. And the support is bipartisan. Fortune

Holograms make their way into corporate meetings

Accenture CEO Pierre Nanterme beamed himself into a confab with 500 company execs. Inc.

Worth Considering

Yahoo bidders unsure what's for sale  

As companies consider submitting bids for Yahoo's internet business, due Monday, they're having trouble getting detailed financial information from the company. Some have even indicated they're unsure what's for sale. In addition, many details of CEO Marissa Mayer's plans for the core business, such as a project to develop a new mobile search experience, are thin. At least some bidders, notably Lowell McAdam's Verizon, will likely bid anyway. NYT

Starbucks CEO talks to Target employees 

Target CEO Brian Cornell invited Howard Schultz to discuss how Starbucks overcame a down period when it had grown too fast and became too bureaucratic. Target is still recovering from problems with similar issues, when it focused on low prices rather than on merchandise that connected with customers. Schultz, whose cafes are in 1,300 Targets across the U.S., said Starbucks had to get back to basics before turning things around. Fortune

Vladimir Putin apologizes to Goldman Sachs 

The Russian president issued an apology to the bank over comments he made on the leak of the Panama Papers. In an annual call-in show, Putin had claimed that the German newspaper that first reported the Mossack Fonseca leak was owned by Goldman Sachs, implying that the bank provided the documents. But Goldman doesn't own the paper. NBC News

Up or Out

TaskRabbit has named Stacy Brown-Philpot its new CEO. She succeeds Leah Busque, who will become executive chairman of the board. SF Gate

Fortune Reads and Videos

Bill Gates comments on the Americans named in the Panama Papers

"I was surprised there were so few," he said. Fortune

"Uber for kids" is shutting down

Shuddle, which transported kids to activities, couldn't attract enough funding to continue. Fortune

Oracle will donate $200 million...

...in an effort to teach kids to code. Fortune

ESPN sees the next NASCAR... 

...in drone racing. Fortune

Quote of the Day

"Over the past 18 months, federal courts have issued nearly 2,600 secrecy orders silencing Microsoft from speaking about warrants and other legal process seeking Microsoft customers’ data...These twin developments — the increase in government demands for online data and the simultaneous increase in secrecy — have combined to undermine confidence in the privacy of the cloud and have impaired Microsoft’s right to be transparent with its customers." -- Microsoft's lawsuit against the Justice Department, claiming the agency is overusing gag orders in investigations of customer emails.  Consumerist

Share Today's Power Sheet: 
http://fortune.com/newsletter/powersheet/

 

Produced by Ryan Derousseau
@ryanderous
powersheet@newsletters.fortune.com
About the Authors
Geoff Colvin
By Geoff ColvinSenior Editor-at-Large
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Geoff Colvin is a senior editor-at-large at Fortune, covering leadership, globalization, wealth creation, the infotech revolution, and related issues.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Ryan Derousseau
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

AI poised to tilt job market leverage toward older workers
AIHiring
AI poised to tilt job market leverage toward older workers
By Victor Swezey and BloombergMay 16, 2026
9 hours ago
tarot
AICulture
We talked to 12 tarot card readers who are using AI. They split in 2 camps, with big implications for the technology
By Ziv Epstein, Farnaz Jahanbakhsh, Vana Goblot and The ConversationMay 16, 2026
17 hours ago
mustafa suleyman
AIMicrosoft
Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
20 hours ago
Kevin O'Leary wears a suit and gestures
Future of Workwork-life balance
‘You’re not a hero, you’re a liability’: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary warns Gen Z founders to stop glorifying hustle culture
By Jacqueline MunisMay 16, 2026
20 hours ago
tom
SuccessEntrepreneurs
Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio got a 15x return on a tech company most Americans have never heard of. He thinks his own industry is broken
By Nick LichtenbergMay 16, 2026
21 hours ago
bhaskar
Economydisruption
The prophet of the ‘Wired Belt’ says capitalism is finally eating itself
By Bhaskar ChakravortiMay 16, 2026
22 hours ago

Most Popular

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
AI
Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
20 hours ago
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
Politics
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
By Jason MaMay 16, 2026
10 hours ago
Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis
Future of Work
Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
24 hours ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
5 days ago
‘You’re not a hero, you’re a liability’: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary warns Gen Z founders to stop glorifying hustle culture
Future of Work
‘You’re not a hero, you’re a liability’: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary warns Gen Z founders to stop glorifying hustle culture
By Jacqueline MunisMay 16, 2026
20 hours ago
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
Success
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
By Preston ForeMay 13, 2026
4 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.