Leadership and PowerLeadership and Power

Chapter 5Chapter 5

If a man can accept a situation in a If a man can accept a situation in a place of power with the thought that place of power with the thought that it’s only temporary, he comes out all it’s only temporary, he comes out all right.  But when he thinks that he is right.  But when he thinks that he is the cause of the power, that can be the cause of the power, that can be his ruination.  his ruination. 

Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman

Bennis and NanusBennis and Nanus

““Power is…the capacity to translate Power is…the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it. intention into reality and sustain it. Leadership is the wise use of this Leadership is the wise use of this power….Vision is the commodity of power….Vision is the commodity of leaders and power is their currency.”leaders and power is their currency.”

Five Primary Sources of PowerFive Primary Sources of Power

Coercive PowerCoercive Power Reward PowerReward Power Legitimate PowerLegitimate Power Expert PowerExpert Power Referent PowerReferent Power

Coercive PowerCoercive Power

Is based on the right to administer Is based on the right to administer punishment or give negative punishment or give negative reinforcements.reinforcements.

Most effective when followers are Most effective when followers are aware of expectations and warnedaware of expectations and warned

User must follow through User must follow through

Coercive PowerCoercive Power

BenefitsBenefits Effective for Effective for

gaining obediencegaining obedience Appropriate for Appropriate for

disciplinary actionsdisciplinary actions Achieves quick Achieves quick

resultsresults

CostsCosts Drains physical and Drains physical and

emotional energyemotional energy Lowers task Lowers task

satisfaction of satisfaction of followersfollowers

Reward PowerReward Power

User must be able to deliver User must be able to deliver something of value something of value

Must be something the follower Must be something the follower desiresdesires

Be specific about behavior being Be specific about behavior being rewardedrewarded

Reward PowerReward Power

BenefitsBenefits Culturally sanctionedCulturally sanctioned Focuses attention on group Focuses attention on group

prioritiespriorities Effective for gaining Effective for gaining

obedienceobedience Boosts short-term Boosts short-term

performanceperformance

CostsCosts Lower task satisfaction Lower task satisfaction

than with expert and than with expert and referent powerreferent power

Not consistently linked Not consistently linked with high task performancewith high task performance

Escalating financial and Escalating financial and material costs to provide material costs to provide ever-greater tangible ever-greater tangible rewardsrewards

Ineffective or destructive if Ineffective or destructive if rewards are not desirable rewards are not desirable or attractive or if the or attractive or if the wrong person is rewardedwrong person is rewarded

Kohn’s Reward Power ResearchKohn’s Reward Power Research

Reward flip side of punishmentReward flip side of punishment Does not appear to produce a lasting Does not appear to produce a lasting

changechange Rewards fail because:Rewards fail because:

• PunishPunish• Rupture relationshipsRupture relationships• Ignore reasonsIgnore reasons• Discourage risk takingDiscourage risk taking• Undermine intrinsic motivationUndermine intrinsic motivation

Legitimate PowerLegitimate Power

Is connected to the position heldIs connected to the position held Is dependent upon the importance of Is dependent upon the importance of

the position heldthe position held May only work if used for valid May only work if used for valid

requests requests

Legitimate PowerLegitimate Power

BenefitsBenefits Culturally sanctionedCulturally sanctioned Incorporates weight of Incorporates weight of

the entire organizationthe entire organization Effective for gaining Effective for gaining

obedienceobedience Helps large Helps large

organizations function organizations function efficientlyefficiently

CostsCosts Lowers follower task Lowers follower task

performanceperformance Lowers follower task Lowers follower task

satisfaction satisfaction May become less May become less

effective over timeeffective over time

Expert PowerExpert Power

Based upon the person not the Based upon the person not the position position

Influential because they provide Influential because they provide information/skillsinformation/skills

Important in our cultureImportant in our culture

Expert PowerExpert Power

BenefitsBenefits High follower task High follower task

satisfactionsatisfaction High follower task High follower task

performanceperformance Drains little if any, Drains little if any,

emotional energy from emotional energy from the userthe user

CostsCosts Takes a long time to Takes a long time to

developdevelop Must possess the Must possess the

necessary knowledge necessary knowledge and skillsand skills

Not as effective in Not as effective in gaining obedience as gaining obedience as coercion, reward or coercion, reward or legitimate powerlegitimate power

May not be effective if May not be effective if followers do not share followers do not share the leader’s goalsthe leader’s goals

Referent PowerReferent Power

Role model powerRole model power Followers allow this type of influence Followers allow this type of influence

because of affection, esteem, and because of affection, esteem, and respect for the other personrespect for the other person

Can be depletedCan be depleted

Referent PowerReferent Power

BenefitsBenefits High follower task High follower task

satisfactionsatisfaction High follower task High follower task

performanceperformance

CostsCosts Takes a long time to Takes a long time to

developdevelop Can diminish if Can diminish if

overusedoverused Must possess the Must possess the

necessary knowledge necessary knowledge and interpersonal and interpersonal skillsskills

Not as effective for Not as effective for gaining obedience as gaining obedience as coercion, reward or coercion, reward or legitimate powerlegitimate power

Powerful and Powerless TalkPowerful and Powerless Talk

Standard LanguageStandard Language Speakers stereotyped by their use of Speakers stereotyped by their use of

wordswords Powerful talk makes speakers seem Powerful talk makes speakers seem

knowledgeable and confidentknowledgeable and confident Adopt appropriate style for the Adopt appropriate style for the

situationsituation

Powerless TalkPowerless Talk

HesitationsHesitations HedgesHedges Tag QuestionsTag Questions DisclaimersDisclaimers AccountsAccounts Side ParticlesSide Particles

Tyrannical BossesTyrannical Bosses

Track every move of their followersTrack every move of their followers Send conflicting messages about what Send conflicting messages about what

they wantthey want Engage in angry outburstsEngage in angry outbursts Demand absolute obedienceDemand absolute obedience Put followers down in publicPut followers down in public Act arbitrarilyAct arbitrarily Coerce followers into unethical behaviorCoerce followers into unethical behavior

EmpowermentEmpowerment

Leaders gain more power through Leaders gain more power through empowermentempowerment• Increases the job satisfaction and Increases the job satisfaction and

performance of followersperformance of followers• Fosters greater cooperation among Fosters greater cooperation among

group membersgroup members• Collective survivalCollective survival• Contributes to personal growth and Contributes to personal growth and

learninglearning• Prevents power abusesPrevents power abuses

Components of the Empowerment Components of the Empowerment ProcessProcess

Modifying the EnvironmentModifying the Environment Supplying ResourcesSupplying Resources Building a Sense of Personal PowerBuilding a Sense of Personal Power

Modifying the EnvironmentModifying the Environment

Eliminate situational factors that lead Eliminate situational factors that lead to feelings of powerlessnessto feelings of powerlessness

Shift decision making authority to Shift decision making authority to followersfollowers

Supplying ResourcesSupplying Resources

Followers need funds, supplies, time Followers need funds, supplies, time and a place to workand a place to work

Political supportPolitical support Need for informationNeed for information

Building a Sense of Personal Building a Sense of Personal PowerPower

Efficacy expectationEfficacy expectation Leaders can build followers’ Leaders can build followers’

perceptions of their personal power:perceptions of their personal power:• Provide emotional supportProvide emotional support• Expressing confidenceExpressing confidence• Modeling successful performance or Modeling successful performance or

providing opportunities to observe providing opportunities to observe othersothers

• Structuring tasks for initial successStructuring tasks for initial success

Empowerment ModelsEmpowerment Models

Leading the Journey (Belasco and Leading the Journey (Belasco and Stayer)Stayer)• Determining focus and directionDetermining focus and direction• Removing obstaclesRemoving obstacles• Developing ownershipDeveloping ownership• Stimulate self-directed actionsStimulate self-directed actions

Empowerment ModelsEmpowerment Models

Superleadership/Self-leadership Superleadership/Self-leadership (Sims and Manz)(Sims and Manz)• SuperleadershipSuperleadership

Changing organizational structuresChanging organizational structures Changing organizational processesChanging organizational processes Changing interpersonal communicationChanging interpersonal communication

Self-leadershipSelf-leadership Self behavior modificationSelf behavior modification Task focusTask focus Positive thinkingPositive thinking