Leader and power politics

By nature, a leader deals with power and politics. Power is the ability to
influence other people and events. It is the way a leader extends his
influence over others. It is different from authority. Authority is delegated
by a superior to a junior. But power is earned and gained by a leader on
the basis of his personality, activities and the situation in which he
operates.
Politics relate to the ways a leader gains and use power. It is through
politics that a leader is able to gain control over events and people.
Politics concerns balances of power, horse trading, mending fences,
trade offs, compromises and avariety of other activities.

Sources of leaders power

Politics involves the use of some kind of power or pressure over other
persons or groups. The leader use the following sources of power to
influence others:
(i)

Personal power: It is also called referent power, charismatic

power and power of personality and it comes from the leader
himself. It is the ability of the leader to develop followers on the
strength of his personality.
(ii)
Legitimate power: it is also known as position power and official
or formal power. It is based on holding a position of authority in
the organization. By virtue of a higher position, the superior can
get his orders executed by the subordinates. Legitimate power
facilitates the leader to control resources and to reward and
punish others. Subordinates accept this power as they believe it
desirable and necessary to maintain order in the organization.
(iii) Expert power: it comes from specialised knowledge or expertise
and so is also called authority of knowledge. The use of expert
power is based on the belief that the influencer has some
expertise which is needed by the influencee. It depends upon
education, training and experience.
Political power: it comes from the support of a group. It arises from a
leaders ability to work with people and social system to gain their
allegiance and support. Political power thrives when the organizational
environments are uncertain. Several tactics are used to gain political
power such as social exchange or trade off, control of information,
alliance, network, cooptation, pressure etc,. Strong inter-personal relations
particularly with influential persons are necessary to build a political base.
The leader should use all the bases of power to increase the area and
level of his influence

Power
Power refers to a capacity that A has to influence the behaviour of B so
that B acts in accordance with As wish. This definition implies a potential
that need not be actualized to be effective, and a dependency
relationship.
Power may exist but not be used. It is, therefore, a capacity or potential.
Probably the most important aspect of power is that it is a function of
dependency. The greater Bs dependence on a, the greater is As power in
the relationship. A person can have power over you only if he or she
controls something you desire. If you are attending college on funds
totally provided by your parents, you probably recognise the power that
they hold over you. You are dependent on them for financial support.
Formal power
Formal power is based on an individuals position in an organization.
Formal power can come from the ability to coerce or reward or it can come
from formal authority.
Coercive power
The coercive power base is dependent on fear. A person reacts to this
power out of fear of the negative results that might occur if she failed to
comply. It rests on the application, the threat of application, or physical
sanctions such as the infliction of pain, the generation of frustration
through restriction of movement, or the controlling by force of basic
physiological or safety needs.
Reward power
The opposite of coercive power is reward power. People comply with the
wishes or directives of another because doing so produce positive
benefits; therefore, one can distribute rewards that others view as
valuable will have power over those of others. These rewards can be
either financial such a controlling pay rates, raises, and bonuses; or
nonfinancial- including recognition, promotions, interesting work
assignments, friendly colleagues, and preferred work shifts or sales
territories.
Legitimate power
In formal groups and organizations, probably the most frequent access to
one or more of the power bases is ones structural position. This is called
legitimate power. It represents the formal authority to control and use
organizational resources.

Position of authority include coercive and reward powers. Legitimate

power, however, is broader than the power to coerce and reward.
Specifically, it includes acceptance by members in an organization of the
authority of a position.
Personal power
You dont have to have a formal position in an organization to have power.
Many of the most competent and productive chip designers at Intel, for
instance, have power, but they are not managers and have no formal
power. What they have is personal power- power that comes from an
individuals unique characteristics.
Expert power
Expert power is influence wielded as a result of expertise, special skill, or
knowledge. Expertise has become one of the most powerful sources of
influence as the world has become more technologically oriented. As jobs
become more specialized, we become increasingly dependent on experts
to achieve goals.
Referent power
Referent power is based on identification with a person who has desirable
resources or personal traits. If X like, respect, and admire Y, then Y can
exercise power over X because X want to please Y. Referent power
develops out of admiration of another and desire to be like that person.