Power, Influence and

Politics
CHAPTER

10
Learning Objectives
In this chapter, you will:
 Define power and influence.
 Identify differences between leadership
and power.
 Identify differences between authority and
power.
 Understand the bases of power.
 Describe dependency as the key to power.
 Identify power tactics in influencing others.
Learning Objectives (cont.)
In this chapter, you will:
 Understand power in groups: coalitions.
 Discuss sexual harassment in the
workplace.
 Understand politics: power in action.
 Identify power and political tactics in
organizations.
 Define empowerment.
10.1 Definition of Power

 Power is the ability which someone has

in influencing others.
 An individual is said to have power
when there are other people who are
willing to follow the instruction or
direction given to them.
10.1.1 Differences between
Leadership and Power
 Leadership: It is an ability to lead someone
towards certain direction.
 Power: It is the ability which someone has in
influencing others.
 Authority: The power which is vested in the
position held by an employee.
10.2 Bases of Power

Formal power Personal power

Coercive power Expert power

Reward power Referent power

Legitimate power Charismatic power

Information power
10.2.1 Formal Power

 Coercive power: This category of power is a

result of fear.
 Reward power: For reward power, people are
willing to comply with the directives of another
due to the positive benefits.
 Legitimate power: In some situations, someone
has a power over other due to the position.
 Information power: Information power referred
to types of power that someone has due to the
information that he or she has.
10.2.2 Personal Power

 Expert power: Power that someone has due to

the skills or knowledge.
 Referent power: A type of power which
someone has due to the desirable resources
that he or she has.
 Charismatic power: This is type of power
possessed by an individual because of the
personality and interpersonal styles.
10.3 Dependency: The Key to
Power
 Important: The resources are important.
 Scarce: The resources also have to be scarce.
If the information is too much, then the rate of
dependency will decrease.
 Non-substitutable: The resources that we have
are difficult to find.
10.4 Power Tactics
Tactics Description Example
Reason Use of facts and data to Ali sees his superior and inform
make a logical or his superior about his performance
rational presentation. and achievement as a reason for
him to get a promotion.
Friendliness Create a relationship by Ahmad invites his boss for a lunch
using strategies such at one of the expensive hotels
as acting humble, being when he knows that the boss has
friendly and create a final say in promoting someone
goodwill. as a new general manager.
Coalition Getting a support from Siti asks few of her friends to
someone in the recommend her to the boss to get
organization to back up the promotion.
the request.
10.4 Power Tactics (cont.)
Tactics Description Example
Bargaining Use negotiation When Lingam heard about the
tactics through the promotion, he went to see his boss
exchange of benefits and highlighed the favour that he
or favours. had done to the company and
asked the boss to promote him to
return the favour.
Assertiveness Use a direct and
forceful approach.
Higher Gaining a support Roslan went to see his general
authority from higher position manager and asked the general
to back up requests. manager to put up good words to
the manager to support Roslan’s
promotion.
10.4 Power Tactics (cont.)

Tactics Description Example

Sanctions Use of Sue told her superior that if she
organizationally did not get the promotion, she will
derived rewards and withhold any information.
punishment.
10.5 Power in Groups:
Coalition
 A coalition is one of the influence tactics used in
the organization to gain power.
 Coalition is a strategy when informal groups
bind together to achieve certain objectives.
 The strength behind this strategy is number.
When a group starts to bound together and
back up each other, their words will be more
stronger and difficult to be ignored by the
management.
10.6 Sexual Harassment: Unequal Power in
the Workplace

 Sexual harassment is referred as unwelcome

advances, requests for sexual favours, and
other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual
nature.
 Sexual harassment is the result of a situation
whereby an individual controls or threatens
another individual because of the power he or
she has.
10.7 Politics: Power in Action

 Political behaviour: A set of behaviours which do

not require one’s formal role in the organization,
but the influence or attempt to influence any
distribution activity in the organization.
 Legitimate political behaviour is the normal
everyday politics which will not cause harm to
anyone.
 Illegitimate political behaviour is viewed as
extreme political behaviour that violates the
implied rules in the organization or in the country.
 Review Questions
1. What is the definition of power?
2. What are the differences between leadership and
power? Can one be a leader without power? Can
one have power and not be a leader?
3. What are the bases of power? Give specific real life
examples of each.
4. How does one create dependency?
5. How many power tactics do you know? Explain
each tactic.
6. Building coalition is one example of power in
groups? How does one build coalition?