The Five Forms of Power
The Five Forms of Power
This is a summary of a research paper entitled, “The Right Power for the Right Organization”. It was written by Marcus Goncalves of Nicholas College. Mr. Goncalves is attempting to give explanation to the different methods of acquiring power in a company and how someone could or could not tap these powers as they are managing organizational behavior. Mr. Goncalves asserts that, “Oftentimes, the leadership of a corporation is in jeopardy when little attention is given to how power is deployed” (2013). Additionally, he describes how the “leadership process” alone can become a solo act, no matter how much education a leader has, when it becomes separated from the mission of the organization, its people and the environment or culture it pervades. He also asserts that a corporate leader will be unsuccessful and ineffectual as long as the subject of motivating and shaping people is continually taught unchanged and with no regard for the future.
Power can be defined as the ability to influence subordinates and peers. However, without authority, power is mostly useless. Authority is the formal rights given within a position of the company. Within a corporation, to be an effective leader, a person must combine and use power and authority together. When a person tries to impose power without the proper authority to do so, most times the outcome will invariably be trouble or rebellion. It is not difficult to find powerful people who hold no real position of authority and vice versa. You can learn leadership skills and develop your power base but effective leaders must have the ability to discern the different types of power and then successfully impress the one that fits with their “leadership style, character traits and working environment” (Goncalves, 2013). Mr. Goncalves lists seven types of management powers including: Legitimate, Expert, Coercive, Reward, Referent, Charisma and Information. However, the most common description of
This is a summary of a research paper entitled, “The Right Power for the Right Organization”. It was written by Marcus Goncalves of Nicholas College. Mr. Goncalves is attempting to give explanation to the different methods of acquiring power in a company and how someone could or could not tap these powers as they are managing organizational behavior. Mr. Goncalves asserts that, “Oftentimes, the leadership of a corporation is in jeopardy when little attention is given to how power is deployed” (2013). Additionally, he describes how the “leadership process” alone can become a solo act, no matter how much education a leader has, when it becomes separated from the mission of the organization, its people and the environment or culture it pervades. He also asserts that a corporate leader will be unsuccessful and ineffectual as long as the subject of motivating and shaping people is continually taught unchanged and with no regard for the future.
Power can be defined as the ability to influence subordinates and peers. However, without authority, power is mostly useless. Authority is the formal rights given within a position of the company. Within a corporation, to be an effective leader, a person must combine and use power and authority together. When a person tries to impose power without the proper authority to do so, most times the outcome will invariably be trouble or rebellion. It is not difficult to find powerful people who hold no real position of authority and vice versa. You can learn leadership skills and develop your power base but effective leaders must have the ability to discern the different types of power and then successfully impress the one that fits with their “leadership style, character traits and working environment” (Goncalves, 2013). Mr. Goncalves lists seven types of management powers including: Legitimate, Expert, Coercive, Reward, Referent, Charisma and Information. However, the most common description of
References: Goncalves, Marcus. (2013). Journal of leadership, accountability and ethics. Vol. 10(3).