Power and Politics

ch. 13
Hajra Asad
 Power

• A capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B so B acts in accordance

with A’s wishes
• It is a function of dependency
• Leaders use power as a means of attaining group goals
• Power does not require goal compatibility, merely dependence
• Leadership focuses on the downward influence on followers
 Bases of Power
Legitimat
e

Formal Reward

Coercive
Power

Expert
Personal
Referent
 Dependency: The Key to Power

• “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is the king!”
• The greater B’s dependency on A, the more power A has over B
• What creates dependency?
• Importance
• Scarcity
• Nonsubstitutability
 Power Tactics

• Legitimacy
• Rational Persuasion
• Inspirational appeals
• Consultation
• Exchange
• Personal appeals
• Ingratiation
• Pressure
• Coalitions
 Political Skill

• The ability to influence others in such a way as to enhance one’s personal

and/or organizational objectives
• The politically skilled are most effective users of all of the influence tactics
• They are able to exert their influence without others detecting it
• Four key components:
• Social astuteness
• Interpersonal influence
• Networking ability
• Apparent sincerity
 Politics: Power in Action
• Organizational Politics
• Activities that are not required as part of an individual’s formal role but that
influence, or attempt to influence, the distribution of advantages and
disadvantages in the organization
• Outside specified job requirements
• Efforts to influence decision making processes
• Withholding key information, joining a coalition, spreading rumors,
exchanging favors, leaking confidential information
• Illegitimate political behavior
Impression Management