Developing Power for Your Career

Power is a word that evokes a reaction from most people. What does it mean for you? Some would say that this is great and want more. Others may shy away from it, thinking it an uncomfortable concept. Politics is another word which brings a similar reaction. It is often the motivation behind the political acts that often determines if they are perceived as negative or positive. These topics are rarely discussed explicitly beyond the lecture theatre — yet they have such an impact on your career.

In simple terms, power is the latent potential to influence others to do what they may not otherwise have done. Don't confuse this with politics, which describes the actions someone takes to exert influence. An individual with no power can influence through politics and someone with power may not need to use politics to influence a course of action. In fact, powerless people have to use politics to influence.

Both power and politics lie behind career success. A good education and high levels of competence are important too; but unless you build your capability to influence through power and politics, success may be limited. Learning how to navigate the corridors of power and make appropriate use of politics should be on every ambitious individual's development plan.

Are you powerful? Are you able to influence without using politics? Everyone has power of one sort or another. Power is complex and the factors which make you powerful can range from your control of huge resources down to the way you smile. Understanding the power you have will help you in several ways. First, it will allow you to focus more attention on these factors when you are building your influence. Second, it will guide you to useful areas where you can develop more power. The major benefit is that it will help you to become more influential and bring greater career success.

Gaining clarity on what makes you powerful is not straightforward. Starting with French and Raven will help; however, more recent work has extended their six sources of power up to ten. A practical way to grow your awareness is to ask yourself some questions …

Why do people do what I want them to do?
What is it about me which helps to elicit support from others?
When I'm at my most influential, what am I doing making it happen?
What connections do I have that people value?
Is there something about my manner which sways people?

Once you've had a go at answering these, discuss them with a trusted friend or colleague. They will see you from a different perspective and may provide some surprises too! Often, power is in the mind of the influenced, so asking others why they would do what you want them to do will add new insights.

You can gain further stimulus for developing your knowledge about power by considering other people too. Why do you do things for others? What is it about them that will make you want to comply? Very quickly, you can turn your workplace into a fascinating real-life laboratory, as you watch how others achieve influence and what gives them the power to do so.

The whole point of this exercise is to help you to become more powerful and exert more influence for career success. So as you reflect on this subject, start to consider what you can do differently. What do you need to do to develop more power?

This is only the tip of the iceberg on power and politics and will hopefully encourage you to take these subjects seriously. We have been working exclusively in this territory for many years and have helped lots of people gain the clarity they need to develop more influence. Part of this work led to the development of The Personal Power Diagnostic, an online diagnostic of your personal power — give it a go today!

Colin Gautrey — author, coach, facilitator and noted expert in the practical use of power and influence in the workplace. Colin has coached top executives around the world, run workshops for international teams and always gets results. As an author, he has written several books and regularly appears on the conference stage on his specialist subject of power and influence. To find out more about his work visit him at www.gautreygroup.com