Power and politics

1. Power and Politics

3. Southland Times, New Zealand
The Meaning of Power
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

4. Definition of Power
A capacity that A has to influence the
behaviour of B so that B acts in accordance
with A’s wishes.
A capacity that A has to influence the
behaviour of B so that B acts in accordance
with A’s wishes.

5.  The capacity to direct or influence the
behavior or the course of action of
others
 Power refers to a capacity that A has to
influence the behavior of B, so B acts
in accordance with A’s wishes

6. Coercive Power
Power
that is
based on
fear

7. Reward Power
Power
that is
based on
the ability
to distribute
rewards that are
seen as valuable

8. Legitimate Power
Power
that a
person receives
as a
result of his/her
position in the
hierarchy

9. Expert Power
Power
based on
specific skills or
knowledge

10. Referent Power
Power
based on
admiration
of another

11.  Give Reward’s
 Promise Rewards
 Threaten to withdraw current rewards
 Withdraw current rewards
 Threaten punishment
 Punish

12.  Legitimate Power
 Reward Power
 Coercive Power
 Information Power
 Expert Power
 Referent Power
 Charismatic Power
Formal Power Informal Power

13. It is a natural phenomenon for
people to gain more power in the
organisation and to satisfy their
power motive.

14.  Legitimacy
 Rational persuasion
 Inspirational appeals
 Consultation
 Exchange
 Personal appeals
 Ingratiation
 Pressure
 Coalitions

15. Giving employees responsibility for what they do.
Empowerment has to do with
‘power to’
‘power over’

16. All political tactics are aimed at gaining &
maintaining power, even the power to
avoid a difficult assignment.
Six techniques to gaining power
 Develop power contacts
 Control vital information
 Control lines of communication
 Bring in outside expert

17. Much of organization politics involve
building relationship with network member
who can be helpful now or later
Strategies for building relationship
 Make & manage impression on others
 Ask satisfied customers to speak about you
 Be overly courteous, pleasant & positive
 Flatter others

18. A strategy for retaining power is to refrain
from making power eroding blunders
which can prevent one from attaining
power
Criticizing the boss in public forums
By passing the manager
Overt display of disloyalty
Being or perceived as a poor team player
Act in haste
Declining an offer from top management

19. One of the most important
factors leading to politics
within organizations is the
realization that most of the
‘facts’ that are used to make
decisions and allocate
resources are open to
misinterpretation.

20. The Ethics of Behaving Politically
Question 1: Is the political action motivated by self serving interests to
the exclusion of the organization’s goals?
Yes
Unethical
No
Ethical
Question 3: Is the political
activity fair and equitable?
No Yes
Unethical
Question 2: Does the
political action respect
the rights of the
individuals affected?
Yes
Unethical
No

21. THANK YOU