LED- DEVELOPING GROUPS AND TEAMS
LED602
Developing and Implementing Groups and Teams
Week 3 – Lecture 1
Welcome to the FIRST lecture for Week Three of LED602, Developing and Implementing Groups and Teams.
This lecture will focus on the importance of asserting influence.
Asserting Influence
Asserting Influence
Leaders frequently use a combination of influence strategies, and people who use a wider variety of tactics are typically perceived as having greater power and influence.
Despite the array of successful influence tactics used by leaders, they all primarily fall into basic categories of influence tactics.
This lecture presents six tactics for asserting influence. Notice that most of these involve the use of personal power rather than relying on position power or the use of rewards and punishments.
The lecture concludes with ethical consideration in using influence.
How Do We Influence Others?
Leaders frequently use a combination of influence strategies, and people who use a wider variety of tactics are typically perceived as having greater power and influence.
Despite the array of successful influence tactics used by leaders, they all primarily fall into basic categories of influence tactics.
This lecture presents six tactics for asserting influence. Notice that most of these involve the use of personal power rather than relying on position power or the use of rewards and punishments.
The lecture concludes with ethical consideration in using influence.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Use Rational Persuasion
Perhaps the most frequently used influence tactic is rational persuasion, which means using facts, data, and logical arguments to persuade others that a proposed idea or request is the best way to complete a task or accomplish a desired goal. Rational persuasion is most effective when a leader has technical knowledge and expertise related to the issue or what is known as expert power.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Make People Like You
Use Rational Persuasion
When a leader shows concern for others, demonstrates trust and respect, and treats people fairly, people are more likely to want to help and support the leader who makes then feel good about themselves. Leaders should never underestimate the importance of praise and getting people to like you.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Rely on the Rule of Reciprocity
Make People Like You
Use Rational Persuasion
A primary way to turn power into influence is to share what you have. Whether it be time resources, services, or emotional support. There is a near universal feeling among people that others should be paid back for what they do in one form or another. This unwritten law of reciprocity. Means that leaders who do favors for other can expect other to do favors for them in return.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Develop Allies
Rely on the Rule of Reciprocity
Make People Like You
Use Rational Persuasion
Reciprocity also plays an important role in developing networks and allies, people who can help the leader accomplish his or her goals. Leaders can influence others by taking the time to talk with followers and other leaders outside of formal meetings to understand their needs and concerns, as well as to explain problems and describe the leader’s point of view.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Ask For What You Want
Develop Allies
Rely on the Rule of Reciprocity
Make People Like You
Use Rational Persuasion
Another way to have influence is to make a direct appeal by being clear about what you want and asking for it. Political activity is effective only when the leader’s vision and goals, and desired changes are made explicit so the organization can respond. Effective political behavior requires sufficient forcefulness and risk-taking to at least try to achieve desired outcomes.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Extend Formal Authority With Expertise and Credibility
Ask For What You Want
Develop Allies
Rely on the Rule of Reciprocity
Make People Like You
Use Rational Persuasion
The final principle for asserting influence is the leader’s legitimate authority in the organization. Legitimate authorities in the organization are in a position to be particularly influential. Research has shown that to successfully use formal authority one should be knowledgeable, credible, and trustworthy. In addition, leaders will keep the previous 5 influence strategies in mind, realizing that influence depends primarily on personal rather than positional power.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Leadership is an opportunity to use power and influence to accomplish important organizational goals, but power can also be abused. There are frequently people in organizations who use power and politics primarily to serve their own interests, at the expense of others and the organization. There are also many situations in organizations where choices are not clear-cut and leaders may have difficulty differentiating ethical from unethical uses of influence, power, and politics.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Is the action consistent with the organization’s goals, rather than being self-motivated purely by self-interest?
First and foremost leaders must ask the question the question of whether the action is motivated by self-interest or whether it is consistent with the goals of the organizational goals.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Is the action consistent with the organization’s goals, rather than being self-motivated purely by self-interest?
Does the action meet the standards of fairness and equity?
Leaders should then also question if the action respects the rights of the individuals and groups affected and does it meet the standards of fairness and equity.
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Is the action consistent with the organization’s goals, rather than being self-motivated purely by self-interest?
Does the action meet the standards of fairness and equity?
Would you wish others to behave in the same way if the action affected you?
Would you want others to take the same action if the action were to affect you?
Tactics For Asserting Leader Influence
Is the action consistent with the organization’s goals, rather than being self-motivated purely by self-interest?
Does the action meet the standards of fairness and equity?
Would you wish others to behave in the same way if the action affected you?
Ethical Choice
In a complex world, there will always be situations that are difficult to interpret. The most important thing is for leaders to be aware of the ethical responsibilities of having power and take care to use their power to help rather than harm others.
End of Lecture 3.1
Please remember to complete:
Introductory Experience
Lectures
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Assignments and Quizzes
This is the end of Lecture 3.1. Please remember to complete the additional assigned work for the week.