Power struggles: when and why the benefits of power for individuals paradoxically harm groups

•Power benefits individuals but harms groups.•Groups where one or more members possess high power (such as power-dispersed or high-power groups) have more intra-group power struggles.•Power struggles harm group performance, viability and creativity.•The problems of power in groups are reduced when group members ‘expand the pie’ and recognize different sources of power and influence within the group.