EMBA 560 Exercise 6 - Essay Example

EMBA 560 The Executive  - - Exercise #6  (10 Points) :_________________________ Answer each of the following questions in short essay format       Describe at least two ways an executive could create or enhance his /her Personal Power. Personal power is sourced from one’s personal characteristics and skills. This relates directly to a persons’ ability to persuade and inspire, to build collaboration and cooperation among peers and followers. One way to do this is to understand how people function in their working situation, so exposure to the various environments one’s followers live and work in builds this understanding.

Prince William did just this when he spent one night asleep on the street to understand the plight of the homeless. Another, less extreme, method is to open lines of communication by which followers can openly send comments and suggestions directly to the leader; this will work only, however, when the leader responds to the feedback in a manner that lets his/her followers know that their messages are given attention to. By understanding them a leader is able to formulate goals and frame his message in a context that is meaningful o them.2)      Describe at least two ways an executive could create or enhance his/ her Relational Power.

Relational power is based on the leader’s relationships with others, not only in terms of number but more important in the strength or quality of their relationship. It requires engagement and a measure of investing oneself in relationships. Relational power means building connections between people, which for a leader means getting to know certain people not in terms of their work along but also in other contexts that are meaningful to both leader and follower.One way of building relational power is to create opportunities for contact in a context other than work related, such as company-wide or movie premieres.

Another way would be to find common interests between followers and leader where they could regularly associate outside of the work environment. Being members of the same golf club, for instance, or exploring the same interests such as comic strip characters and comicon conventions, would be venues outside of work where people can develop relationships. Sometime attending the same parent-teacher meetings when their children go to the same school could be a starting point for building relationships.

While personal power can be develop with groups of people, relational power can be built only selectively, and should be cultivated with key personnel.3)      Describe at least two ways an executive could create and enhance his/her Positional Power.Positional power is based on the formal position the leader holds in the organization and social environment. While personal and relational power are cultivated outside the organization hierarchy, positional power essentially relates to the organization, either based on the formal title or position one holds, or the strategic resources he/she commands.

Positional power in terms of hierarchical designation can only be developed by being promoted to a position above the rest, and to which leadership prerogative attaches. On the other hand, positional power relating to strategic resources or knowledge can be culled by gaining mastery of a critical aspect of the work environment. For instance knowledge of the software for the information system like no other person in the organization is one such specialization. Another is being able to develop networks among suppliers, people in competitor organizations, clientele, government agencies, or similar special interest groups which the organization needs to pursue informal ties with, is one way of developing positional power based on strategic capabilities.

Reference: Ponne, B (2013) ‘Leadership – Power and Politics.’ Architecting the Enterprise. Available at http://www.architecting-the-enterprise.com/enterprise_architecture/articles/leadership_-_power_and_politics.php [Accessed 29 April 2013]