What is Power and Influence to me? Sometime back I would have told you that power is those that are tasked with the responsibility to get a goal done. I would have said that influence is the ability to get others to follow you. This is not my first class that has discussed the Power and Influence Approach. As you will see in this blog I am going to use not only the material from this lesson but also the textbooks from other classes. I have been able to keep those books that I felt have influenced me.
I have been in a supervisor role for over 20 years. It began when I worked at a local Wawa. I knew that I was responsible for getting the team to get the work done but never looked at it as how I influenced them to do it. It has only been in the past few years that the learned that my influence on my team gave me the power to get the work done. Over the years I have witnessed how power and influence can be used together or apart.
The Power and Influence Approach asserts that leadership is an exercise of power by one person over other people(Muchinsky 2006). Power is the capacity to influence or affect others (Northouse 2017). Leaders have powers which allows them to be able to affect how others’ beliefs, actions and reactions. Leaders with power are not limited to leadership roles in business. Leaders are all around us. In many different roles. These leaders can be found as religious leaders, coaches, teachers, mentors, and managers. These leaders have the ability to influence others which increases their power. This influence that they have will sway others to follow them. This can be seen in people supporting local churches, political parties, athletes and students. Power is everywhere just a question of how it is being used.
Power can be demonstrated in many ways which includes five base powers. Those base powers are reward power, coercive power, legitimate power, expert power and referent power (Northouse 2017). Referent Power can be derived from perception of admiration(Muchinsky 2006). Reward Power is derived from capacity to give rewards(Muchinsky 2006). Coercive Power is derived from the capacity to provide punishment(Muchinsky 2006). Expert Power is derived from perception of competence(Muchinsky 2006). Legitimate Power is derived from formal status or positional authority (Muchinsky 2006).These powers are the various ways that power is used to influence their subordinates. These powers can increase the leaders aptitude to make an impact on others. The choice is how the leader uses the power is it in a positive or negative way. The way a leader uses their power says alot about the ethics of that leader (Northouse 2017).
An ethical leadership is the influence of a moral person who moves others to the right thing in the right way for the right reasons (Northouse 2017). Ethical leadership was not part of this lesson but I felt that it is an important part of power and influence. If a leader is being ethical and trying to move those following them to do the right thing then that power is being used in an ethical way with a positive outcome. If that leader is using this power to do wrong or force people to follow them this is unethical with a negative outcome.
Power can be in either a positive or negative situation. This is evident in the case against Harvey Weinstien. Mr. Weinstein was charged and found guilty of using his power of film producer to force women to have sex with him in order to receive certain roles in movies. This was an example of abuse of power. Another example is Kobe Bryant. His power was his ability to influence people around the world. This was seen in the outpouring of love for him after his death. Seeing Kobe as a loving father is encouraging other fathers to be part of their children’s lives. This is an example of how an athlete who is watched by millions can lead by example.
I want to make sure that as a leader within my organization that my power is used to influence those around me. I take great pride in the leader that I have become over the past 10 years. I hope that I am a leader who leaves an impression on others and I am able to encourage others to do what is right. I have had a few leaders who made an impression on me and it was not always their power that did it but more who they used that power to influence me. This includes one math teacher from high school, my mom and a supervisor who supported and encouraged me. I want to be that positive power and influence!
Northouse, Peter G. 2017. Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice. SAGE Publications.