WORDS TO LEAD BY - Power

We are continuing to share lessons this year from Wally Adamchik's book titled Construction Leadership from A to Z.

His book explores "26 Words to Lead By."

This session's word is POWER

POWER

Power - ability to do or act; having the capability of doing or accomplishing something

"Lions don't need to roar." - Debra Benton

Power moves us from potential to action.

Al Gini, co-founder and editor of Business Ethics Quarterly, writes, “To have power is to possess the capacity to control or direct change. All forms of leadership must make use of power. The central issue of power in leadership is not ‘will it be used?’ But rather ‘will it be used wisely and well?’”

A person has the potential for influencing five bases of power over another. Researchers John French and Bertram Raven identify these:

1. Coercive Power - Effectiveness based on fear.
2. Reward Power - Compliance is achieved based on the ability to distribute rewards that others view as valuable.
3. Legitimate Power - Authority a person holds due to his or her position in the formal hierarchy of an organization.
4. Expert Power - Influence based on special skills or knowledge.
5. Referent Power - Influence based on possession of desirable resources or personal traits.

So power essentially comes from one of two places: the position (reward, legitimate, expert) or the person (coercive, referent, expert). Both are important. But what we must recognize is that power really comes from action. It is what I do that really matters and adds to or decreases my power. In reality, a leader obtains the best results by skillfully combining positional power and influential power in his life.

"Power consists of one's capacity to link his will with the purpose of others, to lead by reason and a gift of cooperation." - Woodrow Wilson

Power Jumpstart

• Explain, don't demand.
• Be diligent about using rewards and punishment.
• Cultivate allies / win enemies over.

We all have power of one form or another, and we all exert power at one time or another. So, the phrase "I'm powerless to change things" is simply not true. However, to fully realize this power requires action. What action can you take now to make things better tomorrow for yourself, your family and your co-workers? Let's choose to exercise our personal power wisely today and every day!

Donald G. Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc