FINAL-POWER, POLITICS, AND INFLUENCE Flashcards
Is the ability to make things happen according to one’s perspective by getting someone else to do it for you.
Power
Is the ability to influence the behavior of others to get what you want.
Power
The ability to get things done the way one wants them to be done.
Power
- Power has both positive and negative consequences.
- On one hand, powerful CEOs can align an entire organization to move together to achieve goals.
CONSEQUENCE OF POWER
Refers to people’s tendencies to behave
consistently with social norms.
CONFORMITY
Can result in engaging in unethical behaviors, because you are led by someone you admire and respect who has power over you.
Conformity
TYPES OF POWER IN AN ORGANIZATION
DEPENDS ON:
- Bases (Sources)
- Position & Personal
BASES (SOURCES) OF POWER IN ORGANIZATION
Legitimate Power
Reward Power
Coercive Power
Expert Power
Referent Power
Is the power that is granted by virtue of one’s position in the organization.
LEGITIMATE POWER
He has the authority to give orders to accomplish the given task.
Can be enhanced by ensuring that the business has a clearly defined chain of command and organizational structure.
Legitimate Power
Can be enhanced by ensuring that the business has a clearly defined chain of command and organizational structure.
Legitimate Power
is a kind of motivation towards subordinates which forces them to work more effectively.
Reward Power
Mostly given reward in organization is pay, promotions or new work assignments with special responsibilities.
Reward Power
Is a special type of power in workplace.
Exists when a person has the authority to threaten or punish subordinates.
Coercive Power
Practiced when the organization is on crisis or threaten.
Can be used effectively when attempting to make cuts in personnel as a result of management shifts and transitions.
Coercive Power
The perception that a certain person has an elevated level of knowledge, or a specific skill set that others in an organization don’t have.
Expert Power
Is the extent to which a person controls information which is valuable to someone else which has been achieved through experiences and training.
Expert Power
A type of power that comes from having a high level of knowledge within your area of expertise.
Expert Power
Power that stems from a leader’s ability to inspire and influence others.
The ability of a leader or boss to influence an employee through respect, admiration, influence, or identifying with the leader.
Referent Power
Stems from the personal characteristics of the person such as the degree to which we like, respect, and want to be like them.
Is gained by being admired by subordinates in an organization.
Referent Power
Is the power that resides in the position, regardless of who holds it.
The legitimate, reward, and some aspects of coercive, expert power can all contribute to position power.
Creating position an organization establishes power range for that position.
Position Power
Resides in the person, rather than of the position he or she is filling in the organization.
The primary bases of personal powers are referent, and some traces of expert, coercive & reward powers.
A person with personal power can inspire greater loyalty and dedication compared to a person with position power.
Personal Power
The Uses of Power in an Organization
Commitment
Compliance
Resistance
Are informal, unofficial, and sometimes behind-the-scenes efforts to sell ideas, influence an organization, increase power, or achieve other targeted
ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS
Refers to the personal agenda of an individual within a company.
Organizational Politics
Variety of activities associated with the use of influence tactics to improve personal or organizational interests.
Organizational Politics
ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS, OK OR NOT?
When dysfunctional politics spiral out of control, it can be enough to sink an organization.
It’s wise to stay mindful of the disruptive effects, but it’s equally important to remember it’s not all bad.
In fact, as a company grows, it may only continue to survive due to the political maneuvering of those involved.
ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS
Self-promotion
Office politics
Factionalism
Gatekeeping
Territorialism
Bossism
Happens when an individual works to further their own career, regardless of who they step on in the process.
This person will often kill others’ ideas so that. they can take credit for them themselves.
They are willing to put other people down to raise themselves up.
SELF-PROMOTION
Is when one person or group tries to influence another through persuasion, influence, manipulation, pressure, etc.
They do this for their own gain and are willing to use whatever means necessary.
This can be positive if it helps get more people on board with the organization’s project/idea/direction.
Detrimental if it results in infighting because everyone was trying to win at someone else’s expense.
OFFICE POLITICS
Is when groups within an organization become split based on two distinguishing characteristics: common tasks and common interests.
When factionalization happens within a firm, each smaller faction will form any alliances that they believe to be beneficial to them or their goals.
This can be highly detrimental for the company because the factions will use any means necessary to win.
FACTIONALISM
is when an individual or group in power intentionally prevents other
ideas/concepts/people from entering a given situation, whether work-related or personal.
They do this to keep their position of power and prevent others from
challenging them in any way.
GATEKEEPING
Is when people become extremely attached to a certain role and do not allow others to fill it.
e.g., a professor who insists on teaching the same course year after year, a manager who refuses to give up control over a project.
TERRITORIALISM
Favoritism: Bosses might favor certain employees. giving them promotions, bonuses, or special privileges, which can create resentment among others.
Manipulation: Some bosses may use their influence to control information or shape narratives to maintain their power.
Intimidation: Employees might feel threatened or coerced into supporting the boss’s agenda, even if it’s not in the organization’s best interest.
BOSSISM
REASONS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL
POLITICS
A lack of clarity
Jealousy
Organizational Change
Few promotion opportunities
Laziness
Unknown or no career path
Stagnant Business (no competition)
EFFECTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS
Decrease in productivity
Comicism leg. low morale
Demotivated employees
Low levels of concentration
High employee turnover
Miscommunication
Are the characteristics or attributes of an arganization and the impact they have on the people and work completed within.
Is the capacity to affect the character, development, or behavior of another person, group, or organization.
Is the ability of an individual to transform and shape the opinions of others
ORGANIZATIONAL INFLUENCE
THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THOSE IN POSITIONS LOWER THAN YOURS.
THIS IS BEST ACHIEVED THROUGH AN INSPIRING VISION.
DOWNWARD INFLUENCE
Is the ability to influence those in positions higher than yours.
Can also take the form of an alliance with a higher status person.
UPWARD INFLUENCE
INFLUENCE TACTICS
Ingratiation: using compliments, showing empathy, being sensitive to moods
Rational Persuasion: reasoning, explaining, showing evidence, and facts/benefits
Personal Appeals: asking for favors, explaining the benefits, and leveraging friendships
Pressure: persistent requests, reminders, asking for dates of completion
Legitimizing: leveraging authority, policies, and rules
Inspirational Appeals: expressive style of speaking, appealing to ideas and values
Consultation: asking for suggestions, asking for help, involving people
exchange offering to share benefits and offering incentives
Coalition bringing someone along to help you in an influence attempt, and getting other people to provide evidence and support
