Acquisition of Power

Factors enhancing Positional Power

Centrality

It refers to those activities that are most central to the work flow of the organization. The manager will acquire positional power if the information filters through him.

Ex: The finance manager approves all the expenses and the payments to all departments of the organization.

Scarcity

When resources in the organization are scarce, then there will be a struggle in the different departments for acquiring these resources. Who so ever is the winner of the struggle will acquire power.

When there is abundance in the organizations of different types of resources scarcity will not be a factor to judge the power.

Uncertainty

Uncertainty about future events can play havoc with the plans of different departments. It may relate to reduction in supply of resources, fall in demand of company’s products, change in govt. policies etc. The managers who are able to cope with such uncertainty and who can gain from such uncertainty can acquire power.

Substitutability

The more valuable a person is to the organization, the greater power he holds. There are some people in the organization, whose  contributions are so much that they become indispensable. This may be the result of their specialty, expertise and knowledge which cannot be substituted by easily others.

Acquisition of Personal Power

Expertise

A manager can enhance personal power through the expertise. It can be gained by possession of special knowledge which can be gained by Education, Training and Experience.

Referent  Power

The manager should have a charisma that attracts the subordinates to him and make them follow him in every way. Pleasant personality characteristics, agreeable behavior patterns and attractive postures enhance referent power.

Hard work

A person who is hard working and sincere in his efforts will have more personal power because of this expertise and reference. A hard working person is perceived to know more about the job.