Overview Of Your Second Assignment You Created Professionall
Overviewin Your Second Assignment You Created A Professional Developm
In your second assignment, you created a professional development plan using EI building blocks and motivation. In this last assignment, you will examine how politics and power influence an organization and its culture. In business, power and politics greatly influence an organizational culture and may hinder organizational productivity. In your role as consultant, you observed power and politics influence on the corporate culture.
Write a 5–7 page report that addresses the following: Influence of Politics and Power: Explain how politics and power-play may have influenced the organization's culture.
Sources of Power: Explore at least one source of power and describe how management could use this influence to benefit the department and improve organizational performance.
Leadership Behavior and Culture: Make recommendations that support how the study of power and politics could influence leadership behavior and improve the organization’s culture.
Leadership Influence: Discuss the importance and complexity of leadership behavior in solving the issue you identified. How does it influence organizational structure and performance?
References and Citations: Go to the Strayer University Online Library to locate at least two resources. In-text citations are required when paraphrasing or quoting another source.
Formatting and Writing Standards: This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course.
Confidentiality: Since you will be addressing real issues in real organizations in your assignments, it is important to respect confidentiality. Feel free to use an alias for any company or individuals you might mention in your assignments. Remember that all discussions about these organization should only occur within this course and not be shared with people outside the course.
Paper For Above instruction
The influence of politics and power within organizations plays a crucial role in shaping organizational culture, often affecting productivity, decision-making, and employee morale. As a consultant observing these dynamics, it is evident that political maneuvers and power struggles can embed themselves into the fabric of an organization, sometimes creating a culture that prioritizes self-interest over collective goals. This paper explores how politics and power influence organizational culture, examines a specific source of power management could leverage for positive outcomes, and discusses how understanding these elements can enhance leadership behavior and organizational performance.
Influence of Politics and Power on Organizational Culture
Politics within organizations refer to the strategic use of power and influence to achieve specific objectives, often shaped by individuals or groups vying for resources, authority, or recognition. These political activities can permeate an organization’s culture, leading to environments where loyalty and alliances matter more than merit and transparency. For instance, favoritism, lobbying, and coalition-building may become normalized, influencing how decisions are made and how employees perceive fairness (Robbins & Judge, 2019). Such political behaviors can engrain a culture where compliance and conformity are valued, stifling innovation and openness. Moreover, when certain individuals hold disproportionate influence due to their political savvy, the organizational culture becomes skewed towards protecting interests rather than fostering growth.
Sources of Power and Their Application
One prominent source of power within organizations is expert power, derived from an individual’s skills, knowledge, or expertise. Management can utilize expert power to guide change initiatives, establish credibility, and foster trust among team members. For example, a manager with extensive industry knowledge can influence departmental strategies by providing valuable insights that align with organizational goals (French & Raven, 1959). By showcasing expertise, management can motivate employees, enhance decision-making, and promote a culture of continuous learning. This approach benefits the organization by encouraging innovative problem-solving and ensuring that leadership is perceived as competent rather than merely authoritative.
Leadership Behavior and Cultural Enhancement
Understanding the dynamics of power and politics is vital for developing effective leadership behaviors that positively impact organizational culture. Leaders who recognize and transparently manage political behaviors can foster a culture of trust and integrity. Recommendations include promoting open communication, setting clear ethical standards, and encouraging participation in decision-making processes. Such behaviors help diminish the negative effects of political maneuvering and emphasize meritocracy (Yukl, 2013). Additionally, training leaders to develop political intelligence—the ability to understand, interpret, and influence organizational politics—can empower them to navigate complex environments effectively while upholding organizational values (Gretlund, 2018).
The Role of Leadership in Addressing Power and Politics Challenges
Leadership influence is critical in addressing issues stemming from organizational politics. Leaders act as change agents who establish cultural norms that emphasize ethical behavior and accountability. The complexity of leadership behavior involves balancing authority with empathy, managing diverse interests, and fostering a shared vision. Effective leaders interpret political landscapes and use their influence to align individual and group goals with organizational objectives. This influence extends to shaping organizational structure by decentralizing decision-making or creating collaborative teams, which mitigates hierarchical power struggles and encourages empowerment (Northouse, 2018). Strong leadership that models transparency and fairness can reshape organizational culture, reducing the destructive aspects of politics and promoting a performance-oriented environment.
Conclusion
Understanding the influence of politics and power within organizations is essential for fostering a healthy organizational culture and enhancing performance. By recognizing sources of power such as expertise, management can strategically use influence to align behaviors with organizational goals. Moreover, leadership behaviors that emphasize transparency, ethical standards, and political intelligence are crucial in navigating and mitigating the adverse effects of organizational politics. Ultimately, effective leadership can transform organizational culture from one characterized by conflict and favoritism to one of collaboration and integrity, leading to sustained success and productivity.
References
- French, J.R.P., & Raven, B. (1959). The bases of social power. Studies in Social Power, 150–167.
- Gretlund, J. (2018). Political intelligence and leadership effectiveness. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 25(4), 409–420.
- Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Sage Publications.
- Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2019). Organizational Behavior. Pearson.
- Yukl, G. (2013). Leadership in Organizations. Pearson Education.