W6 Assignment: Personal Power This Week You Learned About Po
W6 Assignment Personal Powerthis Week You Learned About Power In The
Write a paper on “Personal Power.” Address the following in your paper: · Describe ways in which you might increase your personal power. · How would you: 2. Appeal to a vision or higher purpose? 2. Use rational persuasion? 2. Help people to like you? 2. Rely on the rule of reciprocity? 2. Develop allies? 2. Ask for what you want?
The requirements below must be met for your paper to be accepted and graded: . Write between 750 – 1,250 words (approximately 3 – 5 pages) using Microsoft Word in APA style, see example below. . Use font size 12 and 1” margins. . Include cover page and reference page. . At least 80% of your paper must be original content/writing. . No more than 20% of your content/information may come from references. . Use at least three references from outside the course material, one reference must be from EBSCOhost. Text book, lectures, and other materials in the course may be used, but are not counted toward the three reference requirement. . Cite all reference material (data, dates, graphs, quotes, paraphrased words, values, etc.) in the paper and list on a reference page in APA style. References must come from sources such as, scholarly journals found in EBSCOhost, CNN, online newspapers such as, The Wall Street Journal, government websites, etc. Sources such as, Wikis, Yahoo Answers, eHow, blogs, etc. are not acceptable for academic writing.
Paper For Above instruction
Personal power in the workplace is a crucial element that influences an individual’s ability to lead, inspire, and effect change. Developing personal power involves understanding and leveraging various strategies to enhance one’s influence while maintaining ethical integrity. This paper explores practical ways to increase personal power, including appealing to a vision or higher purpose, rational persuasion, gaining likability, relying on reciprocity, developing alliances, and confidently asking for what one wants. These strategies are essential for establishing credibility, fostering trust, and achieving professional objectives effectively.
Increasing Personal Power
To augment personal power, individuals must focus on self-awareness, competence, and relationship-building. Self-awareness enables an individual to identify their strengths and weaknesses, allowing targeted development efforts. Building competence through continuous learning and skill enhancement solidifies one’s credibility and influence. Relationship-building is fundamental; it involves developing professional networks, maintaining integrity, and demonstrating genuine interest in others’ welfare. By embodying these qualities, an individual naturally increases their personal power and becomes a trusted advisor within their organization.
Appealing to a Vision or Higher Purpose
Appealing to a vision or higher purpose is a powerful method for inspiring others and gaining support. Leaders who articulate a compelling vision align team efforts towards a common goal, fostering motivation and commitment. For instance, emphasizing the organization’s mission to improve societal well-being can resonate deeply with employees’ values, creating an emotional connection. According to Kanter (2011), aligning personal goals with organizational purpose enhances influence and sustains motivation. When individuals see their work contributing to a greater cause, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated, thereby elevating personal power.
Using Rational Persuasion
Rational persuasion involves presenting logical arguments, factual data, and evidence to convince others of a particular idea or course of action. It requires credibility, thorough preparation, and clarity of communication. Effective use of rational persuasion establishes the persuader as knowledgeable and trustworthy. For example, providing data-supported benefits of a new project can persuade stakeholders to support it. French and Raven’s (1959) bases of social power highlight that using rational persuasion can significantly enhance one's influence, especially when the arguments are compelling and logically constructed.
Helping People to Like You
Individuals are more likely to be influenced by those they like and trust. Building rapport involves active listening, showing genuine interest, and demonstrating empathy. Small gestures like remembering personal details or providing supportive feedback can strengthen interpersonal bonds. As Banaji and Greenwald (2013) suggest, likability increases compliance and cooperation, which in turn amplifies personal power. Demonstrating authenticity and consistency fosters trust, making others more receptive to one’s influence.
Relying on the Rule of Reciprocity
The rule of reciprocity posits that people feel obliged to return favors or kindnesses. By offering assistance, valuable information, or support, an individual can create a sense of obligation that encourages others to reciprocate positively. Cialdini (2009) highlights that reciprocal acts build goodwill and mutual influence. When someone provides help unconditionally, they can leverage this to ask for favors or support later, strengthening their influence within the organization.
Developing Allies
Developing alliances involves building strategic relationships with influential colleagues. Allies can provide support, share information, and advocate for shared interests. Effective alliance-building requires trust, mutual benefit, and alignment of goals. As Ferris et al. (2014) note, alliances extend influence beyond immediate contacts, allowing individuals to navigate organizational politics more effectively. Cultivating alliances involves networking, demonstrating reliability, and contributing to others’ success, thereby increasing personal power through collective influence.
Asking for What You Want
Confidently asking for what one needs is a vital skill. This involves clear communication, understanding the interests of others, and choosing an appropriate time and manner. Framing requests in terms of mutual benefit increases the likelihood of success. According to Bolino et al. (2013), assertiveness combined with empathy fosters positive responses and advances personal objectives. Building a reputation as someone who is both direct and considerate encourages others to respect and support one's requests, thereby enhancing influence.
Conclusion
Enhancing personal power in the workplace requires a multifaceted approach that combines self-awareness, strategic communication, relationship-building, and ethical influence tactics. By appealing to a higher purpose, applying rational persuasion, fostering likability, leveraging reciprocity, developing alliances, and confidently making requests, individuals can strengthen their influence and leadership capacity. Ultimately, cultivating personal power is about developing genuine relationships and acting with integrity to inspire trust and motivate others towards shared goals.
References
- Bloisi, W., Cook, C., & Hunsaker, P. (2013). Management and organizational behavior (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
- Cialdini, R. B. (2009). Influence: Science and practice (5th ed.). Pearson Education.
- Ferris, G. R., Liden, R. C., Manley, J. B., & Shaw, J. D. (2014). Political skill as a moderator of the influence of impression management on performance evaluations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(5), 763–775.
- Kanter, R. M. (2011). Supercorp: How to leap extraordinary growth. Crown Business.
- French, J. R., & Raven, B. (1959). The bases of social power. In D. Cartwright (Ed.), Studies in social power. Institute for Social Research.
- Goethals, G. R., & Leippe, M. R. (2012). The psychology of leadership: New perspectives and research. Routledge.
- Kanfer, R., & Shaffer, M. A. (2014). Self-regulation and leadership development: The science of influence and self-control. Leadership Quarterly, 25(2), 335–350.
- Banaji, M. R., & Greenwald, A. G. (2013). Blindspot: Hidden biases of good people. Delacorte Press.
- Burke, R. J., & Cooper, C. L. (Eds.). (2004). The human side of managing technology. CRC Press.
- Bolino, M. C., Klotz, A. C., & Turner, N. (2013). More than just a perk: Relating positive organizational behaviors to work-life balance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 83(3), 452–464.