Leadershipmeans power - power over the actions of others, power over the direction of the business, power over conversations and decisions, power over results.
As leaders using position power, we make a mess of that successful process. This doesn't mean that we have to be power hungry dictators with evil intentions to compromise the team's efforts. It's often done with the best of intentions in mind.
Most people jump on the boss's idea bandwagon pretty quickly and abandon the competing, and sometimes more effective, solution. People like being on the side of the winning solution.
As leaders we have the power to help others become their best. We lose that when we want them to simply duplicate our best. We work hard to hire, coach, train and develop people who can help our organization move into it's better future. Let them do that. Let them do it with all of the energy and engagement that they can muster and understand that your leadership enables them, your power competes with them.
Gauge the perception leaders have of their own sense of power. Based on the sample of leaders surveyed, most recognize that they possess power at work.
There is also a notable correlation between how powerful a leader believes he or she is at work and that leader’s level in the organization. Leaders at a higher organizational level tended to rate themselves as more powerful at work, while those lower in the organizational hierarchy tended to rate themselves as less powerful.
The power of position is the formal authority that derives from a person’s title or position in a group or an organization.
The power of charisma is the influence that is generated by a leader’s style or persona.
The power of relationships is the influence that leaders gain through their formal and informal networks both inside and outside of their organizations.
The power of information is the control that is generated through the use of evidence deployed to make an argument.
The power of expertise is the influence that comes from developing and communicating specialized knowledge (or the perception of knowledge).
The power of punishment is the ability to sanction individuals for failure to conform to standards or expectations.
The power of reward is the ability to recognize or reward individuals for adhering to standards or expectations.