Figuring Out Your Sources of Power

What’s your power?

Have you ever wanted to be a superhero? As a kid, I tied towels around my neck for a cape and played Batman. It was so empowering to imagine myself strong and bulletproof.

As I got older, I realized gaining and using power is more complicated than crafting a make-believe cape. Like it or not, personal power is something we need to manage in our professional lives.  Power is our capacity to get others’ cooperation. It’s “political currency” – an intangible resource you can save up, then draw on when you find something worth the expenditure. And while you use some power for managing your team, more of it is required to manage your team’s context. As their ambassador to others in the organization, it’s your job to get your team the resources and cooperation they need. And to do that – you need power.

Writing in the 1950’s, French and Raven identified two distinct sources of power. One comes from your formal position in an organization. Your job description tells you – and others – what assets you control or decisions you can make. That’s pretty straightforward and can be hard to change without taking on a new position.

But they also realized power resides uniquely within individuals. That’s an easier type of power to expand.

Expertise comes first. When we acknowledge someone has knowledge superior to ours, we typically do what they say. Using others’ expertise is a cognitive shortcut – it means we can “borrow” their learning to make decisions about how to act. When you have a reputation for solid knowledge, people are more likely to listen and comply.

Effort is also a source of power. When we see someone working really hard, we generally want to help them.

Personal resources can provide options – and options can lead to power. In my negotiation classes, students learn that the best way to gain leverage while bargaining is to be able to walk away. If you have attractive alternatives, the other party has to make concessions if they want you to make a deal with them.

Attractiveness/Affection. As any marketer will tell you, attractive people sell products. Pretty people are more likely to get hired for jobs or elected. (Yes, I know. Life isn’t fair.)