Question

A critical component of effective leadership is the ethical application of influence. Influence is a type of power. Oftentimes the word “power” has a negative connotation suggesting manipulation and coercion. Yet the appropriate, moral use of power, in the form of influence, is significant in the respected leader’s toolbox.

The legitimacy of an individual’s position in the organization provides him/her Authority. Whereas Power is an individual’s capacity to influence decisions. The ethical use of power expands on a leader’s ability to influence. Review these Leadership Power Types and choose one to profile for this writing assignment. Choose one (or more) Power Type and provide examples of the type as it relates to influence as a leader. Use references to support your submitted material. Do you know someone who exhibited this Power Type – a boss, a spouse, a parent? Or do you recognize this Power Type in someone well-known in American History, Industry, Commerce, or Government?

Types of Leadership Power

Coercive Power: Based on Fear

Connection Power: Based on Links with Important People

Expert Power: Based on the Leader’s Skills & Knowledge

Information Power: Based on Access to Information

Legitimate Power: Based on Position of Authority

Referent Power: Based on Personal Traits (“popular” power)

Reward Power: Based on Rewards, Pay, Promotion, Recognition

Answer 1

As mentioned in the given case, there are different types of power that are used by individuals to influence a decision. Though most of the time, power comes across as a negative approach which can be similar to manipulation and intimidating someone to change their view or perspective or certain decision making process. Most of the times, it is the organization who empowers individuals to take certain decisions.

The various leadership power types as given in the case are:

• Coercive power
• Connection power
• Export power
• Information power
• Legitimate power
• Referent power
• Reward power

To go into more detail of one specific power we can choose an individual who has used these powers to make changes in the organization and culture around him. Steve Jobs founder of Apple is the personality we are focusing on today. By analyzing his success, we can identify the influence he had on others and their decision making process. Focusing on the powers, he had a mix of all the powers which empowered him to be a unique personality. But if we look closely there are two area which are stronger than others. They are legitimate power and expert power. Being in a highest role within the origination, he had the power and authority to influence multiple decisions. Most of the features and design of Mac system and iPhone are direct inputs from Jobs which he ensured were implemented during the design and rollout of products. He used this power to influence the decision making of the engineers and designers who worked with him. He also had a deep understanding of the customer needs and requirements. This expert power enabled him to foresee the customer desires even without them letting it know to anyone. Once his products were well accepted in the market, his team and coworkers started trusting his decisions and that enable him to exert even more power to make the necessary decisions and strategic roadmaps. These powers helped Steve Jobs to rise in the technology world and help make the world a better place.

From my personal expertise, I have encountered few individuals use these powers to influence a decision making process. My previous boss/manager was an authoritarian who wanted all the decisions to be taken via him. No decision could be taken by others without his approval. The way he ensured his approach worked was by hiring people who he could control and by managing the rewards mechanism. He used to reward the ones who never opposed his decisions but reduced the incentives for ones who would question his approach. From a power leadership perspective he used the reward power to enable his approach in the system.



References:

https://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/an-introduction-to-organizational-behavior-v1.1/s17-01-focus-on-power-the-case-of-ste.html

https://blogs.ubc.ca/ryanlee/2011/11/29/hello-world/