How does power and influence actually work together in the workplace? According to our lesson plan on the subject matter, power is known as the capacity to produce effects on others, or the potential to influence them (PSU W.C., Lesson 11, 2014). Essentially power is the actual actions that the leader portrays while the act of influencing comes from the change in behavior that the followers act out. So the question is what kind of person can have so much power and influence over their subordinates while they continue to respect and listen to them on a daily basis?
My husband is the perfect example of somebody whose power has influence over people’s reactions. For 7 years he has been employed with the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department. The uniform of the police officer conveys power and authority. When a police officer puts on his uniform, the public perceives them in a very different way. The minute my husband puts on his uniform he is automatically given power to tell the public when they are doing wrong and punish them if need be. Due to the power his uniform possesses, citizens behavior is influenced by forcing them to behave, respect and listen to everything that he says. Some say that the uniform he wears has a powerful impact on those who view it. So I guess the question is, do people respect him or the uniform?
French and Raven (1959) came up with five ways that individuals can influence others. These powers include: expert power, referent power, legitimate power, reward power, and coercive power (Northouse, 2013). Based on the example of my husband’s job, power is most definitely composed of these powers. Although there is not much reward power that police officers have, I feel it is a reward if I get pulled over and am let go with only a warning!
References:
Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif. Sage.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2014). PSYCH 485 Lesson 7: Transformational Leadership. Retrieved from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/fa14/psych485/001/content/07_lesson/01_page.html
Joseph Randall Gonzalez says
Thanks for posting such an interesting question in your blog, whether they respect him or the uniform. Honestly I think that is a very hard question to answer and depends on the individual is that is viewing a police officer in general. I think of an officer as having legitimate power which according to our lesson commentary is “a function of the situation…it depends on a person’s role in the organization and can be thought of as ones formal authority” (PSU WC LC7 pg. 4) When I think of legitimate power I take the word organization and insert the word community to make better sense of the situation. Cops have a role that they play in the community, they are there to serve and protect. When the uniform is put on, most people should acknowledge the legitimate power and influence the cop will have on the community. With the legitimate power the community will act accordingly to the law.
But what happens when we don’t see the uniform? Some of us may not recognize those who are cops out in the community unless there is some type of relationship between the two. For example I got pulled over the one time for the tint on my car being too dark. For some odd reason I could remember the cops face and a week later I saw him out in public at the local farmers market. Needless to say I made sure he wasn’t leaving when I was because I didn’t want him to see my car still tinted, even though I don’t think he could do something.
But another example which I feel like we all fall victim too, speeding. Do we speed when we see a cop in their car? Or do we wait till the cop passes to go a little over? Wouldn’t you say the cop car acts like a uniform as well? I know for myself, yes I will go over the speed limit, especially if there a no cops. But there are times when I do go to the speed limit even if there are no cops.
Ultimately to answer your question I do think it depends on the cop and the relationship they build with the community as to whether or not the uniform plays a part in the power. Personally speaking I wouldn’t know if there was a cop right next to me (unless it was the one with my tint) so the chances of me being influenced by their power is slim. However if he has he uniform on, I would be on my best behavior and see him as a powerful figure in the community.