Gaining Power and Influence: Analysis of Questionnaire Results

Gaining power is something that our species has evolved to strive for. Throughout history man has always tried to gain power in some way, but gaining power is not an easy task and while gaining power is something that is core to all of human desire it is reached in different ways. Some gain power through war, economics, politics, and some power is inherited, but regardless of how power is gained, all power has to be maintained and how it is maintained is the real argument because the ways of gaining power that we explore have already happened and were successful in giving power to people but the ways the power is maintained is what makes one successful or not.

Power is loosely understood as one’s ability to influence the actions of others (Kelly & Tazbir, 2014). However, it is important to note that power remains independent from authority. Authority over others, as explained by Gonclaves (2013), is a formal responsibility that accompanies a title or position. While one may have administrative authority over an employee, they may not necessarily possess the ability to influence the person’s behavior. Power is derived from “expertise, legitimacy, reference (charisma), reward and coercion, or connection” (Kelly & Tazbir, 2014, p. 189). These sources of power are a combination of both purposeful and inherent behaviors that allow one to exercise influence over others (Kelly & Tazbir, 2014). To be most

The amount of legitimate power someone has depends on the importance of the position she or he occupies and the willingness to grant authority to the person in that position. The benefits of this type of power are that incorporates weight of the entire organization, effective for gaining obedience, helps large organizations function effectively. The costs are that lowers follower task performance, lowers follower task satisfaction, and may become less effective overtime.

Expert Power – Obtaining compliance through one’s knowledge or information. Managers generally have this power since they tend to have information that their employees don’t.

Power is something that everyone will experience in his or her lifetime. The individual, interactional, and intergroup levels are three ways in which power can be experienced. On an individual level, I have experienced lacking power during my childhood and having to move around all the time. I never had a say in the matter, I just had to do what I was told. In terms of the interactional level, I have experienced power in my internship. As the social work intern I hold some power over the students with whom I interact. The power can be understood in the fact that I am seen as an authority figure to them and I am able to help them in ways they might not be able to help themselves. Lastly, on the intergroup level as a person of the Caucasian

To strengthen this I have increased my expert and connection power. With the thirst for knowledge and the ability to bring people close to me I have been able to build a strong foundation to soon merge as a legitimate power. I have worked hard to do my job and excel at it, but I have also made a strong effort to befriend and get close to management and upper management. Knowing upper management will help strengthen my legitimate power once I get it. In the instance GEICO opens a new office those managers I have developed a relationship with will recruit me to higher up positions to lead and build a new lifeline for the

In that case, my source of power would be years I’ve worked at my present employer, including the experience I’ve gained, the work-product I’ve produced, my relationship with clients and customers, and the fact that I understand the goals of the company and have proven that I can assist the company in achieving those goals. Perhaps, however, the ultimate source of my power is that my interests are not completely focused on salary and that if I can achieve all of my other interests except for a salary than I will personally be successful.

The power and influence theory focuses on the different ways a leader uses power and influence to get things done. The most well known of power and influence theories is French and Raven’s Five Forms of Power. This model distinguishes between using your position to exert power and using your traits to be powerful. It says that using personal power is the best because expert power (the

Also, known as Position Power, (Tubbs, 2012)). Expert Power, the power derived from the respect an individual have due to their knowledge or expertize in a certain field, no matter how this knowledge of expertize is acquired either by studying the field or having a hand on experience, (doctors,

Power is the emphasis is an employment situation. While employed you have a certain amount of power, both over your work environment and your own life.

Power refers to the ownership of power and impact over others. Contingent upon how power is utilized, it can prompt positive or negative conclusions in an association. Control in individuals is similar to power in batteries; the higher the voltage of battery, the more electromotive energy it can convey; subsequently, it can have more noteworthy effect. Likewise, individuals with more prominent wellsprings of force are better ready to lead and impact others than individuals with less and lesser wellsprings of force. The all the more influential you are, the more impact you ought to have. Persons can have master force; referent force; prize force; coercive power or true blue force.

Power has been addressed in academic literature in several ways but most commonly describing “power as the ability to control valued resources and administer rewards and

It is important for managers to understand the sources of power and influence as they must rely upon the cooperation of subordinates in order to be successful. Strong managers rely upon more than just authority they also use leadership skills and power to obtain the most productivity from their staff. According to French and Raven (1959) there are five sources of power. Referent power seems to be the most influential and the least affected by change. To quote Paul Argenti,

Power means to be on top, that there is no competition against you. I personally believe power gets you respect. People follow a powerful person. A powerful person is someone who does anything that they please in any particular way without any restraints. Another the way of having power to be financially successful. Having financial power in my world is another way of being powerful because money has a huge value in today's society and can affect people’s decisions. Having power is important to me not only for the respect factor but because by being powerful I would have less financial worries.

The second source of power that influences individuals and organizations behaviors is known as Personal Power. This power focuses more on the individual?s independent nature within the position that he or she has been placed. There are three sources under this power that are apparent in most organizations that are well managed. The first is expert power in which control is based on the knowledge or experience that the individual possesses in the position that he or she holds. Rational persuasion is the power to control behavior by being able