When was the last time you felt intimidated? Was it while talking in front of a person you found attractive? Were you put on the spot by a professor who called your name to answer a question when he clearly knew you were zoning out? Intimidation can come as a result of power and influence. Power and influence involves a leader and a follower, with both parties holding their own type of power and influence. By this I mean, while a leader can hold power, he can still be influenced. Like wise, a follower is generally influenced by a leaders actions and words, but the follower has a sense of power as well.
In my #PSYCH485 course this week, the commentary brought up a point that made me connect to the lesson very strongly. “Office furniture can also signify power.” (Lesson 7, p. 4). I kid you not, this simple sentence made the whole topic of power and influence clear to me. Allow me to explain why…
When I was first going through the interview process for my current job, it was very intimidating and intense. There were two 45-minute phone interviews, followed by two 90-minute in-person interviews. After the first two phone interviews, I thought to myself, What else is there to talk about in an in-person interview? I had already spent an hour and a half answering questions, communicating my concerns, and explaining my past experiences within my job field. I did not know what else I could say during a third and fourth interview that I have not said already. The day came for my first in-person interview. I walked in to the building, and was led by the receptionist to the meeting room. There was a circular table with a handful of chairs. There were also two chairs leaning against the wall, away from the table. This caught my attention. Usually a circular table shows equal power, but I have never seen one in a workplace before. I especially have never seen one during an interview. While I waited for the Co-owner and the Human Resource Manager to come in and speak with me, I nervously took a seat in the chair against the wall.
(I created this meme using the following website: https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/X-Everywhere).