Lecture 10: Power & Influence Flashcards
what are the 3 dimensions of power?
1: managing resources
2: managing process
3: managing meaning
what is the 1st dimension? managing resources
- conscious strategy to overcome resistance
- mobilising resources to defeat conflict
- power comes from the control over resources
what is the 2nd dimension? managing process
decision making agenda… what gets talked about and what is on the table.. what is on the agenda and who is in the room when a decision gets made
conscious strategy to sideline resistance
eg, parliament for a long time refusing to even have the convo about same sex marriage…
what is the 3rd dimension? managing meaning
conscious strategy to prevent resistance from happening in the first place
to change lang. to overcome resistance
how is power based on dependency ?
if someone is dependent on you for a scarce resource, then you may have power over them
what are the types of power?
reward coercive authority referent expert information affiliation group support budgets, equipment
what is reward power
you have tangible and intangible ways to reward or punish people eg. teachers, parents, pay rises, promotions
what is coercive power
you can injure or damage someone…
what is authority power
you have a formal position in the hierarchy… eg, the government, CEO, judges etc
what is referent power
you can established a personal rapport, you have charisma… people have power because we like them and we want to follow them, eg. celebrities
what is expert power
you can do things that others cannot. you have credibility, a record of valued achievements… the wise ones with knowledge… eg. scientists
what is information power
you have info that others do not… control of info/data.
eg, librarians as they can find what you need
what is affiliation power
you are connected to powerful people.. power because you can get to the powerful person.. also called political access
eg. executive assistant to CEO
what is group support in relation to power?
you have the support of many people… the numbers, having people behind you… eg. unions. power in numbers
what are budgets and equipment relating to power?
you are able to allocate budgets and equipment to others… eg, treasurer
how does the second dimension of power (process) work?
resistance is sidelined by managing the decision making the process
eg, controlling who has access to the decision making arena, what gets discussed, when and how it gets discussed, criteria for decision making
could sideline a decision maker who could cause conflict.
how does the third dimension of power (meaning) work?
the use of language to minimise conflict without people realising it was going to occur
- changing the convo to reduce the conflict, reduces opposition because outcomes are simply accepted… how has an idea been changed through power?
eg. changing the name of the Iraqi war to the war on terror to minimise the resistance to the war
eg, climate change instead of global warming
what is a key difference between the first two dimensions of power and the third dimension of power?
first two uses of power are in response to conflict, whereas the 3rd is used to unobtrusively used to prevent conflict…
manages meaning to ensure that outcome B feels favourable
