Chapter Outline
· Definition of Power:
· Contrasting Leadership and Power:
· Bases of Power:
· Dependence: The Key to Power:
· Power Tactics:
· Sexual harassment: Unequal Power in the Workplace:
· Politics: Power in Action:
· Causes and Consequences of Political Behavior:
· The ethics of Behaving Politically:
It is the capacity of “A” to influence the behavior of “B”, so that, “B” acts the way “A” wishes. There is another aspect of power is dependence. The more “B” is dependent of “A”, the more power “A” have over “B”.
Example: if you have to pass an exam and there is just one teacher who teaches that course. In this case you are much dependent on professor, so professor have more power over you.
In college, a student is dependent on parents for money and tuition fee, so at the moment parents have more power over child. But as child passes the college, gets a job and earns handsome money, then parents start losing their power. This is the most common practice that is seen in the society.
Powerful managers vs less powerful managers:
People with more power are confident on their decisions and doings. A survey suggested that. The managers with more power were able to evaluate the performance of their subordinates, take corrective measures or offering them trainings.
Managers with lower powers were found to ignore the performance of subordinates or did not involve in any conflict with subordinates, as it could have become more vulnerable, if subordinate wanted to get revenge for negative feedback.
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Leadership |
Power
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Leaders are goals oriented. |
Power don’t require goal compatibility.
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Leader focuses on downward influence on followers,
minimizes the importance of lateral and upward influence.
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Power is to influence others. |
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Leaders find answers of; how positive a leader
should be, how much decision making should be shared with followers.
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Power’ sole focus is on gaining compliance. |
There are two major bases of power, which are Formal and Personal Power. These two are further breakdown into more specific categories. Let’s discuss each;
Formal Power:
It is based on person’ position in an organization. It can come from ability to coerce or reward or from formal authority.
Coercive Power:
Its base depends upon fear of negative results from failing to comply. If A has the power to suspend or dismiss B, then B values his or her job. If A assigns work to B, B finds it unpleasant or treat B in a manner, B finds embarrassing. A Possess coercive power over B.
Coercive power can also come from having key information. In an organization, the person with more information and data, others become dependent on him.
Reward Power:
It is opposite to coercive power. It produces positive benefits. If someone have the authority to distribute rewards whether financial (salary raise, bonus, other incentives) or nonfinancial (promotion, work recognition, interesting work assignments, friendly colleagues) among other people, and others find it valuable. In this case the reward distributor will have power over others.
Legitimate Power:
It is the formal authority associated to the position, a person holds in an organization or formal group. Example, group leader.
In organizations, power is distributed in hierarchical manner. Higher the position, the more power he holds.
Example: when a Bank president, a college principal or army captain speaks, tellers, teachers and lieutenants listen them carefully and are supposed to comply.
Personal Power:
There are two types of personal powers, which are expert power and referent power.
Expert Power:
Individuals who are expert in performing specialized jobs, have expert power. Example, Physician, tax accountant, computer specialists.
Referent Power:
Let’s understand this with an example; if I like you, respect you and admire you, my this attitude and behavior gives you power over me. Why big brands endorse their products through famous celebrities in TV commercials by spending millions of dollars. It is because, research shows, famous celebrities have the power to influence viewers choices.
Which basis of Power are most Effective:
Among all the types of powers discussed above i.e., formal and personal powers, analysts and researchers suggest that personal powers (expert and referent powers) are more effective and positively related with employee satisfaction and organizational commitment.
Among three formal powers coercive power is little effective too, but it has its set backs as well, as it is negatively related to employee satisfaction and commitment.
Power and Perceived Justice:
Individuals who have got power, are blamed for their failure and credited for their success. People believe that, powerful leaders should have the authority to shape organizational policies and change unfair rules.
The most Important aspect of power is that,
it is a function of dependence. Let’s see how understanding dependence helps in
understanding power itself.
The General Dependence Postulate:
An old saying is “in the land of blind, the
one-eyed man is king”. This describes that, the more B is dependent on A, the
more power A has over B. if something is plentiful, possessing or keeping it
will not increase your power.
The more you expand your options, the less
power you place in hands of others. This is the reason, why most of
organizations engage with multiple suppliers rather than surrendering the whole
business to just one single supplier, and don’t let the suppliers to monopolize
the business.
What creates Dependence?
Dependence increases when the resources
which are under your control are important, scarce and non-substitutable. Let’s
discuss each;
Importance:
If nobody needs what you have, it will not
create dependence. Study found that, engineers are more powerful in technology
companies like Matsushita and marketing is the name of game and are more
powerful in consumer products companies like Procter & Gamble.
Scarcity:
When the resource is scarce, it increases
its importance and dependability. We can also relate it with demand supply
rule. Example If the supply of labor is low relative to demand, in this
case workers are in position to demand higher salary packages and far more
attractive than those in occupations with an abundance of workers.
Non-Substitutability:
The fewer feasible substitutes for a
resource the more power control over that resource provides. If we take the
example of “Careem” (riding mobile application) in Pakistan. Earlier it had no
substitute so the company used to manipulate both the riders and drivers. But
now after the competitive substitute Careem has lose its power in market. s