Power and Politics

Power and Politics

ngs ge t t hings
th i l e to
m a ke ou
Powe
r Being
ab
o y
Abil ity t
t he w a y sides and Politi done
i n of the cs
happ
en same are two
coin
want
Ability to get someone to do
To direct and control members of what you want her / him to
P ow e r do
re the organization to acieve
author fers to poss
it es
others y and influe sion of
organizational goals.
nce ov
er

b u ild , to
s n ity to i na
ce o ther Op p o r tu
d g e hi s to r y
f l uen to n u
city t o i n create, direction-
pa t
Ca differen
Nixon
 Power is the capacity of a person, team, or
organization to influence others.

The potential to influence

others

People have power they don’t use and may

not know they possess

Power requires one person’s perception of dependence

on another person
 Person A’s
Power over
Person B
Person A

Person B’s
Person B
Goals
 Sources of Power

Coercive Power
Formal

Reward Power
Formal

Referent Power
Personal

Legitimate Power
Formal

Expert Power
Personal
 Sources of Power

Coercive Power

Reward Power

Referent Power

Legitimate Power
Examples – Threats of
Write ups, Demotions, Pay
Expert Power cuts, Layoffs, Terminations.
 Sources of Power

Coercive Power

Reward Power

Referent Power

Legitimate Power
Examples – Tangible and
intangible rewards such as
Expert Power Monitory, bonus, certificates,
Medals, gifts etc.
 Sources of Power

Coercive Power

Reward Power

Referent Power

Legitimate Power
Examples – Mass leaders,
Celebrities, Widely respected
Expert Power people, Nationalism, Patriotism
etc.
 Sources of Power

Coercive Power

Reward Power

Referent Power

Legitimate Power
Examples – CEO of corporation,
Heads of departments enjoy
Expert Power this power by the virtue of
being in that position.
 Sources of Power

Coercive Power

Reward Power

Referent Power Examples

Legitimate Power
Examples – Expertise in specific
areas.
Expert Power
 Consequences of Power

Coercive Power Resistance

Reward Power
Compliance
Legitimate Power

Referent Power
Commitment
Expert Power
 Evolution of Power
Power
High Empowerment – The
Distribution
process by which managers
Followers are
help others to acquire and
granted authority
use the power needed to
Degree of empowerment

to make decisions
make decisions affecting Power sharing
themselves and their work Manager / leader
followers jointly
make decision
Influence sharing
Manager / leader
consults followers
when making
Authoritarian decisions.
Power
Manager / leader
impose decisions.
Low

None Domination Consultation Participation Delegation

 Ethical guidelines for political behavior

Yes
Unethical
Yes
Ethical
Is the action
motivated by self- Is the
serving interests political
which exclude the Yes activity fair
goals of the and
organization equitable
Does the
political
action respect Unethical
No No
individual
rights

Unethical
No
 Managing Organizational Politics effectively
Establish Build base of
credibility and an support by
overall positive networking,
impression in the forming alliances
Learn the eyes of others in etc. with key Create and
culture and the organization players. implement formal
rules of the and clear policies,
game for procedures etc. to
success in the reduce
organization ambiguity
Use defensive Act in ways Be open and
behaviors as consistent with visible with
protection against what is verbally employees when
dirty political communicated dealing with key
players in the to employees issues that affect
organization ( walk the talk). them.
 How to control political behavior

1. Provision of sufficient resources

2. Minimized ambiguity and clear rules
3. Free flowing information
4. Remove Political norms
5. Increase opportunities for dialogue
6. Peer pressure against politics
7. Manage Change Effectively
8. Measure performance not personality
9. Hire employees carefully
“The Woods” is when In
The high ground
addition to their formal
combines formal
processes and guidelines,
authority with
organizations also have
organizational
implicit norms, hidden

Organizational Level
systems. It provides

Where Political Activity takes Place

assumptions, and
The High guide rails for the
unspoken routines
The Woods rocks
Ground

Individual Level

The Weed The Rock

“The Rocks” because
rocks can symbolize a
stabilizing foundation that
Personal influence and Informal Formal
keeps an organization
informal networks rule.
Source of Power steady in times of crisis.
“The weeds” because
it’s a dynamic that
grows naturally Source : Michael Jarrett ©HBR.ORG