Influence others by who you are - personal power.
Great leaders possess power, and they use it.
Yet many who aspire to be great leaders fail to consider where power fits into the equation.
If you want to have control over your life and make a difference in your organization and world, accept the significance of power in your ability to achieve your goals. The key to making a positive difference in your organization is to choose your source of power and how you use it with self-awareness and intention.
Is Power Good or Bad?
Although power often carries negative connotations, it is neither good nor bad in the absence of how leaders use it.
By definition, power is merely the ability to do something or to influence others and the course of events.
Indeed, some do use power to achieve unfortunate ends. Undoubtedly you are familiar with leaders who use their power to manipulate and exploit.
However, many leaders wield power for good. Power is the force that enables inspirational and motivational leaders to make a positive difference in the world.
No matter whether you lead a team, an organization, or a community, without power you are unlikely to accomplish much.
Understand Your Sources of Power
Power exists in several forms. Two of the most common kinds are positional and personal power.
Positional Power
Positional power is attached to a job title or formal role of authority rather than to a person. Therefore anyone associated with the role becomes powerful as long as they hold the position.
Positional power is not available to everyone since only a select few rise to positions of authority in organizations. And leaders who rely solely on positional power find that their influence evaporates when they no longer fill the role.
Most likely, you know people who have retired or quit a job and are surprised when they don't have the sway they assumed was theirs while they held a title of authority. It is easy for those in significant positions within an organization to misperceive the source of their influence.
In some cases, leaders believe people listen to them and follow their orders because they are exceptional human beings who are more intelligent than the rest. Often their followers reinforce these beliefs by catering to their conceits.
For example, consider managers whose employees shower them with flattery and praise. Enamored with the constant adulation, they could easily overlook the possibility that their employees are acting in their self-interest.
No wonder they are convinced they are unique.
Personal Power
Personal power is attached to the individual who holds it rather than to a role or title. Therefore, it is more enduring than positional power.
Personal power comes from self-mastery, character, expertise, and relationships. By aiming to serve others, leaders with personal power gain respect.
To uncover their personal power, leaders look at themselves realistically. They explore how they think, and they identify their emotional triggers. Deep self-awareness is the key to their self-mastery and control.
Personal power leaders aren't afraid to be appropriately vulnerable.
For example, they examine the assumptions underlying their choices and decisions. And they are prepared to share their assumptions with others and invite push-back.
They believe open discourse and the airing of diverse points of view deliver the best results.
They hold "power with" rather than "power over" people.
The good news is that personal power is available to everyone courageous enough to seek it. And the key to unlocking it is to know yourself well.
You Don't Have to Choose Between the Two
Of course, positional and personal power aren't mutually exclusive. You can hold a position of authority and carry it out with personal power.
And that, my friend, can be your path to greatness in today's workplace.
Research on leadership and power shows those who rely on personal power, no matter what their position or title, are more effective than leaders who rely solely on other power resources.
Personal power is right for our times, as the workforce of 2022 seeks a different kind of leader. Titles mean less to workforce participants than how leaders carry out their roles.
Millennials make up the bulk of the workforce. And they want leaders who respect them and inspire them by building a sense of shared mission. They look for leaders who use their influence to unite people rather than to control them.
Thus, positional power coupled with personal power is a winning combination.
Common Power Pitfalls
Even if you are comfortable with the idea of leading with personal power, you are likely to face some common power landmines. Here are a few suggestions for avoiding them:
- DON’T pretend to be creating communities if you are actually building empires.
- DON’T allow your ego to become overblown due to the admiration of others.
- DO stay humble no matter how much influence you wield.
- DO encourage others to challenge your ideas.
- DO allow yourself to change.
Remember this: leaders with the most significant impact on their organizations do not fear power. However, they are intentional in how they choose to employ their power resources.
They remain vigilant for temptations that could ensnare them and with keen self-awareness, arm themselves to resist. And although they are influential, they are also open to influence from others.
By welcoming the growth that comes from change, they become even more powerful.
