power influence politics

power

refers to a person/group’s potential to influence another person/group to do something that would not otherwise have been done

can be held by indivs as well by groups

formal authority

managers typically have ___ bc of their position which gives them a legitimate right to ask employees

legitimate power

authority a person receives bc of their official position, role, status within an org/society

ppl follow instructions of the leader bc they believe the person has the right to give orders

common in schools, businesses, governments, hospitals, and other organizations where there is a clear chain of command

1. position-based authority

2. recognized by rules and structure

3. temporary in nature

4. creates order and coordination

characteristics of legitimate power

reward power

ability of a leader/manager to influence ppl by giving rewards, benefits, or incentives

employees/followers obey or perform well bc they expect to receive something positive in return

commonly used in businesses, schools, and orgs to motivate ppl and improve performance

personal power

ability to influence others based on a person’s individual qualities, skills, knowledge, or relationships rather than their official position or authority

ppl follow the leader bc they respect, admire, or trust them

does not depend on job title/rank, comes from leader’s personality, competence, and ability to connect w others

• expert power

• referent power

types of personal power

expert power

comes from a person’s knowledge, skills, or experience

ex: an experienced chef training new kitchen staff bc of their expertise

referent power

comes from admiration, respect, or trust from others

ex: employees willingly follow a leader who is inspirational and approachable

1. based on indiv qualities

2. earned not assigned

3. builds strong relationships

4. long lasting influence

characteristics of personal power

1. based on indiv qualities

comes from personality, expertise, confidence, or communication ability

2. earned not assigned

ppl gain personal power through trust and respect, not through position

3. builds strong relationships

leaders w personal power often create loyalty and cooperation

4. long lasting influence

even w/o a formal position, influential individuals may still affect others

advantages of personal power

• encourages trust and respect

• improves teamwork

• increases employee motivation

• creates positive work environment

disadvantages of personal power

• takes time to develop

• influence may vary

• dependence on individual

• possible misuse of influence

informational power

person’s ability to influence others bc they possess valuable, important, or exclusive info

indivs w access to critical info can shape decisions, actions, and behaviors

persuasive power

ability to influence others through convincing communication, logical arguments, emotional appeal, or negotiation skills

encourage others to voluntarily accept ideas or actions

empowerment

process of giving employees the authority, responsibility, confidence, resources, and freedom to make decisions and take actions related to their jobs

resource scarcity

limited access to important organizational resources such as money, equipment, information, skilled employees, technology, or time

centrality

how important a person, department, or role is to the orgs workflow, communication, and operations

substitutability

how easily a person, skill, resource, or department can be replaced

the more difficult it is to replace someone, the greater their power becomes

uncertainty

situations where outcomes, problems, or future events are unpredictable

influence tactics

strategies indivs use to affect the attitudes, behaviors, or decisions of others

common influence tactics

• rational persuasion

• inspirational appeal

• consultation

• collaboration

• ingratiation

• personal appeal

• exchange

• pressure

• coalition tactics

national culture

shared values, beliefs, traditions, and behaviors of ppl within a country or society

power distance

how much ppl accept unequal distribution of power

individualistic culture

value personal achievement

collectivist culture

value teamwork and group harmony

uncertainty avoidance

some cultures prefer clear rules and structure

direct culture

prefer straightforward communication

indirect culture

value diplomacy and politeness

importance of understanding culture

• improves communication effectiveness

• reduces misunderstandings

• enhances leadership effectiveness

• supports international business operations

• encourage employee cooperation

persuasion skills

ability to influence others through communication, reasoning, emotional appeal, and relationship-building

one of the most important leadership and managerial skills

elements of effective persuasion

• credibility

• logical reasoning

• emotional appeal

• communication skills

• confidence

importance of persuasion skills

• improves leadership effectiveness

• helps resolve conflicts

• encourages teamwork

• supports negotiation and sales

• motivates employees

upward influence

process by which employees influence the attitudes, decisions, behaviors, or actions of their supervisors, managers, or higher-level authorities within an organization

downward influence

managers direct subordinates

common upward influence tactics

1. ingratiation

2. exchange

3. rationality

4. assertiveness

5. coalition

6. upward appeals

organizational politics

activities and behaviors used by indivs or groups w/in an org to gain advantage, influence decisions, protect personal interest, or increase power

characteristics of organizational politics

• involves influence and power

• occurs in informal relationships

• exists under uncertainty

• can be pos or neg

• involves competition

causes of organizational politics

1. limited resources

2. ambiguous goals and rules

3. differences in interests

4. organizational change

5. power and status competition

6. personal characteristics