Scribd
Upload
101 views24 pages

Unit 6 Workplace Power, Politics and Leadership

This document discusses power, politics, and leadership in the workplace. It defines power as the ability to influence others and get them to act according to one's wishes. There are five main types of power: coercive, legitimate, reward, referent, and expert power. Politics in the workplace involves using power and networking to benefit oneself or others. While politics can be unethical, it is generally necessary for organizations to function smoothly. The document outlines various power tactics and responses individuals can take to organizational politics, such as avoiding actions, avoiding blame, and constructively confronting issues.

Uploaded by

Tshering Jangchuk
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
101 views24 pages

Unit 6 Workplace Power, Politics and Leadership

This document discusses power, politics, and leadership in the workplace. It defines power as the ability to influence others and get them to act according to one's wishes. There are five main types of power: coercive, legitimate, reward, referent, and expert power. Politics in the workplace involves using power and networking to benefit oneself or others. While politics can be unethical, it is generally necessary for organizations to function smoothly. The document outlines various power tactics and responses individuals can take to organizational politics, such as avoiding actions, avoiding blame, and constructively confronting issues.

Uploaded by

Tshering Jangchuk
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 24

Unit VI

Workplace Power, Politics and Leadership


WHAT IS POWER
• Power refers to the possession of authority and influence over
others/Capacity to influence someone and to get that someone to act
in accordance with one’s wishes.
• WHY IS POWER REQUIRED?
• Providing direction
• Get fast access to decision makers
• Maintain regular, frequent contact with decision makers
• Assisting in the management process
• Assist to employees in performing better
TYPES OF POWER/BASIS OF POWER
• Coercive power
• Legitimate power
• Reward power
• Referent power
• Expert power
COERCIVE POWER
• Coercive power is the ability of a manager to force an employee to
follow an order by threatening the employee with punishment if the
employee does not comply with the order.
• Examples of coercive power
• Threats of write-ups,
• Demotions,
• Pay cuts, layoffs,
• Terminations if employees don't follow orders.
LEGITIMATE POWER
• Legitimate power is power you derive from your formal position or
office held in the organization's hierarchy of authority.
• Example of legitimate power
• The president of a corporation has certain powers because of the
office he holds in the corporation.
REWARD POWER
• It is simply the power of a manager to give some type of reward to an
employee as a means to influence the employee to act. Rewards can
be • Tangible • Intangible.
• Tangible rewards are physical things like • Monetary awards, wage or
salary increases, bonuses, plaques, Certificates, medals and gifts.
• Intangible rewards are not physical things, but can be more effective
like • Praise, Positive feedback, Recognition, More responsibility
including a rise in status, Well-timed 'thank-you’.
REFERENT POWER
• Referent power is power of an individual over the Team or Followers,
based on a high level of identification with, admiration of, or respect
for the powerholder/ leader.
• Examples of referent power are
• Nationalism,
• patriotism,
• celebrities,
• widely-respected people.
EXPERT POWER
• Expert power is power based upon employees perception that a
manager or some other member of an organization has a high level of
knowledge or a specialized set of skills that other employees or
members of the organization do not possess.
WHAT IS POLITICS?
• Workplace politics, (office politics or organizational politics) is the use
of power and social networking within an organization to achieve
changes that benefit the organization or individuals within it. Influence
by individuals may serve personal interests without regard to their
effect on the organization itself.
• WHY IS POLITICS REQUIRED?
• To come in the limelight and gain undue attention and appreciation
from the seniors.
• To obtain advantages which are beyond their control.
• Getting thing done at right time.
TYPES OF POLITICS
1. Attacking and blaming
Targeting on other’s, Blaming other’s, Not accepting faults

2. Controlling information
Maintaining secrets, Incomplete information, Wrong information, Destroying information

3. Forming coalitions
Forming negative aspects on others, Groupism, Rationalism

4. Cultivating networks
5. Creating obligations
6. Managing impressions
EFFECTS OF POLITICS
• Decrease job satisfaction
• Increased anxiety and stress
• Decreased in overall productivity
• Affects Concentration
• Spoils the Ambience
• Changes the Attitude of employees
• Demotivated employees
• Wrong Information
IS P&P REQUIRED IN AN
ORGANISATION?
• The political game is played everywhere, whether it is during a
conversation at work, at home, at school, or event at the grocery
store. Politics are prevalent in the workplace. Unlike power, politics do
not have to be played by everyone within an organization. Yes, p&p is
required for things to run smoothly is part of any organization. For
employees to advance in their career, they need to recognize and
accept the game in their organization.
CONT…
• Organizational politics is necessary for a leader to acquire and retain
power and to accomplish major goals. Although political behavior can
be unethical and destructive, it also can and should be ethical and
contribute to a balanced set of interests. Your democratic
institutions... must foster, defend, and enlarge institutions by which
knowledge can be made greater and choices wider and more
certain. ...The real function of power and the order it creates... is the
liberation of men and women to think and be and make the most of
themselves.
POWER TACTICS
• Power tactics : Ways in which individuals translate power bases into
specific actions.
1. Legitimacy: Relying on your authority position or saying a request
accords with organizational policies or rules.
2. Rational persuasion: Presenting logical arguments and factual
evidence to demonstrate a request is reasonable.
3. Inspirational appeals: Developing emotional commitment by
appealing to a target’s values, needs, hopes, and aspirations.
4. Consultation: Increasing the target’s support by involving him or her
in deciding how you will accomplish your plan.
CONT…
5. Exchange: Rewarding the target with benefits or favors in exchange
for following a request.
6. Personal appeals: Asking for compliance based on friendship or
loyalty.
7. Ingratiation: Using flattery, praise, or friendly behavior prior to
making a request.
8. Pressure: Using warnings, repeated demands, and threats.
9. Coalitions: Enlisting the aid or support of others to persuade the
target to agree.
ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS: causes of
organizational politics
• Behaviors that others perceive as self-serving tactics for personal gain
at the expense of other people and the organization.
• More prevalent when scarce resources are allocated using complex
and ambiguous decisions and when the organization tolerates or
rewards political behavior.
• Individuals with a high need for personal power, an internal locus of
control, and strong Machiavellian values have a higher propensity to
use political tactics.
• THE HIGH SELF MONITOR
More sensitive to social cues, exhibits higher levels of social conformity,
and more likely to be skilled in political behavior
LOCUS OF CONTROL
More prone to take a proactive stance, attempt to manipulate situations in
their favor
HIGH MACHIAVELIAN PERSONALITY
Will to manipulate, and desire for power – is comfortable using politics to
further his or her self-interest
ORGANIZATIONAL INVESTMENT
The more a person has invested in the organization in terms of
expectations of increased future benefits, the more that person must lose if
forced out and the less likely he or she is to use illegitimate means.
• PERCEIVED JOB ALTERNATIVES
The more alternative job opportunities an individual has – due to a
favorable job market or the possession of scarce skills or knowledge, a
prominent reputation, or influential contacts outside the
organization – the more likely that individual is to risk illegitimate
political actions.
RESPONSES TO
ORGANIZATIONAL
POLITICS
Response to
organizational
politics
AVOIDING ACTIONS
• OVERCONFORMING. Strictly interpreting your responsibility by saying
things like “The rules Clearly states…” or “This is the what we’ve
always done it.”
• BUCK PASSING. Transferring responsibility for the execution of task or
decision to someone else.
• PLAYING DUMB. Avoiding an unwanted task by falsely pleading
ignorance or inability.
• STALLING. Appearing to be more or less supportive publicy while
doing little or nothing privately.
AVOIDING BLAME

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy