HB homework

Power and Politics Lecture Notes

13.2 The Basics of Power

Power is the ability to influence the behavior of others to get what you want.

There can be positive and negative consequences of power.

Positive: power can influence people towards great achievement

Negative: power can be used to increase conformity towards corrupt or unethical actions.

Dependency: Key to Power

When you possess anything that others require but that you alone control, you make them dependent upon you and therefore you gain power over them.

Dependency: Key to Power

Importance

· The things you control must be important

Scarcity

· A resource must be perceived as scarce

Non-substitutability

· The resource cannot be substituted with something else

13.3 The Power to Influence

Bases of Power

Coercive power

Reward power

Legitimate power

Expert (information) power

Referent power

Evaluating the Bases of Power

Coercive power tends to result in negative performance responses, decreases satisfaction, increases mistrust, and creates fear.

Reward power may improve performance if the rewards are consistent with what the individuals want as rewards.

Legitimate power does not have a negative effect, but does not generally stimulate employees to improve their attitudes or performance, and it does not generally result in increased commitment.

Expert power relies on trust that all relevant information is given out honestly and completely. Can result in increased commitment.

Referent power Can also lead to commitment

Influence

Responses to Influence:

· Resistance: occurs when the influence target does not wish to comply with the request and either passively or actively repels the influence attempt.

· Compliance: occurs when the target does not necessarily want to obey, but they do.

· Commitment: occurs when the target not only agrees to the request but also actively supports it as well.

· Impression management: means actively shaping the way you are perceived by others.

· Three categories:

· Verbal

· Non-verbal

· Behaviour

13.4 Organizational Politics

Organizational politics are informal, unofficial, and sometimes behind-the-scenes efforts to sell ideas, influence an organization, increase power, or achieve other targeted objectives.

Political skill refers to peoples’ interpersonal style, including their ability to relate well to others, self-monitor, alter their reactions depending upon the situation they are in, and inspire confidence and trust

Build your Social Network

Identify Your Relationship Needs

Develop Your People Skills

Focus on Your EI

Practice Mindful Listening

Manage Your Boundaries

Schedule Time to Build Relationships

Appreciate Others

Be Positive

Avoid Gossiping

From: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/good-relationships.htm