Power

Unit-7

Power
Power is the capacity to
influence others who are in a
state of dependence.
It is used to get someone to do
something that is consistent
with our own planned
objectives.

Sources of power

There are five primary source or

bases of power:
1. Reward: allows managers to exert
influence by providing positive
outcomes that affect the behavior
of others.
2. Coercive: allows managers to deny
employees specific rewards when
they are not displaying desired
behavior.
3. Legitimate: this power is a function
of ones position within the
structure of the organization.

4. Expert: it emerges from

specific expertise, skills,
information or knowledge that
one posses within the
organization.
5. Referent: is a function of being
respected and admired by
others.

Managing power

There are number of specific

strategies and behaviors that we
adopt to make use of power:
1. Reason: using rational, logical
arguments with facts and data.
2. Friendliness: use of goodwill,
flattery, or be especially nice to
someone before making request.
3. Coalition: when rally (gather)
others together in order to use
those relationships for support.

4. Bargaining: to achieve
objectives by exchanging
benefits or favors with others.
5. Higher authority: seek
supports from superiors to
back up request.
6. Sanctions: to use
organizationally derived
rewards and punishments.

Empowerment

Empowerment means sharing or

giving employees the authority,
opportunity, and motivation to solve
organizational problems using
independent decisions.
Guidelines for implementing
empowerment include:
1. Delegation of authority to lower levels
should be clear and unambiguous.
2. Planning must be integrated and
participative at all levels.
3. Managers at all levels should emphasize
strong communication skills.

 How do empowered does

increase productivity both at the
individual level and the team
level:

Self- determination:
Sense of meaning:
Sense of competence:
Sense of impact:

Organizational politics
Organizational politics are
defined as the management of
influence to obtain ends not
sanctioned by the organization,
or to obtain sanctioned ends
through the means of nonsanctioned influence.

Machiavellianism
The sour side of politics exist
primarily because of the
characteristics of members within
the organization who are high on the
personality dimension known as
Machiavellianism.
These have the following
characteristics:

they act with self-interest.

They are cool and calculating
They have high self-esteem and selfconfidence
They form alliances with powerful people
to achieve their goals.

Effective management in a
political environment
1. Frame arguments in terms of
organizational goals:
2. Develop the right image:
3. Gain control of organizational
resources.
4. Make your self appear
indispensable (unavoidable):
5. Be visible:
6. Develop powerful allies:
7. Avoid tainted members: members
whose status is questionable.
8. Support you manager: