A person who takes a leadership position always assumes great responsibility. Managers must control the production process, as well as manage the employees of the company. How it looks in practice and what types of power in management exist, read below.
The concept
What is power? This is managing people and influencing them through personal influence. There is a standard definition of power in management. It implies a targeted effect on people, which changes their attitude to work, mobilizes forces, makes employees work at their maximum capacity. Is it difficult for a person? A person who has leadership qualities can lead followers without much difficulty. A person can, with the help of suggestion and persuasion, direct the activities of the team in the direction necessary for the company. The content and concept of "power" is quite subjective for each specific area. The companies apply all kinds of techniques to improve performance. Someone prefers to use the whip method, and someone closer to the method of stimulation using gingerbread. The best results are achieved by a leader who knows how to combine two approaches.
Grounds of authority
You need to lead people legally. The concept of power and its role in management are determined by methods of influencing employees. What reasons for power do leaders have?
- Law. The constitution spells out the rights and obligations of managers. The manager should be guided by them and not to cross the line of permissible. Otherwise, workers may go on strike or quit. Laws regulate the relationship between subordinates and managers. Each person entering work in one or another company must know his duties and rights. Otherwise, he risks falling into a situation where they will "ride" him.
- Fear. A person must be confident in his future. If there is no such certainty, then he has fear. Fear can be the best motivation to work. An employee who is afraid to lose his place will work well, fulfilling the instructions given to him in a quality and timely manner.
- Reward. The types of power in management involve several approaches to leadership. One of them is employee motivation by reward. A person who knows what he will receive for his efforts will work better than a person who will not see the prospects of his development.
- Conviction. Any employee should be motivated by their activities. The conviction of workers that they work for the benefit of humanity is the best motivation. A developing company should always provide its employees with an incentive for development.
- Charisma. The types of power in management are based on the concept of leadership. The leader, who is the authority for his employees, can lead the company wherever he wants. Workers must trust the leader and believe in his prudence. Working under the control of a tyrant is a small pleasure.
Types of power
The leader must decide on the style of his management. A person who takes responsibility must understand the degree of influence he exerts on employees. What types of power and influence exist in management?
- Outgoing from the post. The leader is authority for subordinates. But not always personal charisma helps a person climb the career ladder. Sometimes competent persons are appointed to responsible positions, who can and are able to cope well with their duties. The power of leaders who have taken their place thanks to knowledge, skills and diligence can be shaken at any moment. A person who has climbed the career ladder due to his intellectual activity will have to work hard to stay in his position. Continuous professional development through self-development or through specialized courses are magic pills that give a guarantee in the future.
- Outgoing from the personality. This type of power in management is more reliable. A charismatic person or leader is able to lead people. If employees see in their boss a confident person who knows how to set goals and achieve them, they will not require constant development from the manager. Yes, it’s good if it is, but the authority of the individual will not be shaken if the person loses in his intellectual development to his subordinates.
Forms of power
The use of power in management implies a solid foundation on which it will be based. A leader can use one or more forms of power. What are they like?
- Legal. A person can manage the company, guided by the labor code. You might think that all leaders do that. Not at all. Budget organizations often come up with their own laws for the development of the company, and if an employee does not agree with them, they dismiss him. It is pointless to go to court in this case. Legal authority does not cause any disputes between employees and subordinates. Workers always know that if necessary they can refer to the labor code and will be heard.
- Forced. The whip method brings dividends in terms of discipline. Managers who motivate employees with fines and all sorts of cash deductions from their salaries can do good work. But the atmosphere in the team will always be tense and unfriendly.
- Encouraging. This type of power and influence in management involves rewarding employees for their success. Prizes for good work, career advancement, or better working conditions can be rewards. Employees will receive stimulation for better work and will know that in case of a mistake they will not be criticized much.
- Resource. The power in management, the nature, sources and forms will be determined by the resources that the manager has. They can be both natural and financial. Such companies are developing rapidly due to good investments both from the management and from sponsors and shareholders.
- The power to make decisions. This form of leadership is questioned by many. In this case, managers make responsible decisions on the development of the company, but they do not consider it necessary to understand how the departments work. The power over each part of the production is fixed in the hands of the manager, who is fully responsible for all the actions of employees.
- The power of ties. The types of power and methods of influence of management based on personal relationships have taken root well in our country. Managing an enterprise is easier when you have friends in various institutions.
Power functions
The basics and forms of manifestation of power in management will depend on what functions the management will perform. What does a good manager do?
- Maintaining order. The leader should monitor how employees work and how friendly the relations are in the team. If the company has various "opposing" camps, the achievement of common goals will be in question. To prevent this, the manager must immediately resolve all issues and disputes that arise between people.
- Achievement of goals. The main task of the leader is to achieve the goals set for him. The manager must be able to anticipate problems and quickly find solutions to them.
- Troubleshooting. No matter how well the company works, there will always be failures and force majeure. Their elimination must be timely dealt with by the head.
- Motivation. People will work better if they understand the meaning of their work. What kind of motivation style the manager uses, it doesn’t matter, the main thing is that employees understand why they need to give all the best.
Styles of power
In management, the forms of power and the influence exerted on subordinates depend on what management style the manager has chosen.
- Leadership style. The manager assumes full responsibility for what his employees do. The manager is always aware of all the tasks of the company, he is aware of the deadlines for the completion of each specific project. The leader independently chooses a way to influence employees. When performing one task, the manager can reward employees, and for fulfilling other duties, he can deprive employees of some privilege. A flexible approach to leadership has the best results, but it deprives employees of stability, as they do not know what to expect from the next project.
- Submission style. In this case, employees perform well-defined tasks. Regardless of the project, workers will be confident in the future. People will be able to plan their future in the company, their career. Employees know what privileges the work for wear will bring them, and will also be aware of what they will face for delaying the project or for being late.
Influence methods
Features of the use of power in management will depend on how the head of employees will motivate and for what.
- Interests A person who shares the interests of the company will be indispensable in any office. If the employee’s personal aspirations coincide with his work responsibilities, the person will work much more hard and efficiently.
- Values. Each person has his own worldview and moral values. An experienced leader is not afraid to play them. The manager can motivate employees in different ways, depending on who has which value system. For someone, salary will be of great importance, and for someone prestige will be more important.
- Limitations The power imposes on a person the right, at his own request, to impose some fines and sanctions on certain activities. For example, a supervisor may prohibit employees from chatting in the workplace if, in his opinion, this process will interfere with work.
- Education. Competent workers will remain so if they continually improve their knowledge. But not all people have enough time for education. Therefore, the company will train the best employees at its own expense. This method of encouragement appeals to many young professionals.
- Conviction. To make a person work well, he needs to be convinced that he does not work in vain. Each company should have some kind of social mission through which employees will feel that they benefit the community.
- Creation. Any company should help employees realize their potential. A creative approach to work should be encouraged by managers.
Properties of power
Types of power and methods of management influence will be determined based on specific properties. What are they like?
- Social. The leader should not be a despot. Power should be responsible for subordinates. The head is obliged to pay attention to the desires of employees, their attitude to management and relations between themselves.
- Asymmetric. The manager must understand that not all employees have the same effect. Some individuals are more suggestible, others more suspicious or distrustful. You should always keep in mind that not all employees can understand their tasks equally clearly and deal with them equally well.
- Targeted. Power always focuses on its goals. It was they who she should be guided in when making decisions regarding employees.
- Potential. Employees should do their job equally well when they have remuneration for the work done and when they do not. Authorities should not constantly motivate employees with bonuses or fines.
- Vera. Subordinates must be confident in their leader, they must trust his competence in terms of managing the company. Distrust gives rise to people's doubts about the mission of the company, which should not be shaken under any circumstances.
Power advantages
People who have power in management and administration receive a lot of dividends. What are they like?
- Improving self-esteem. The person who controls other people feels more meaningful. He is pleased that he is being obeyed and his orders are being followed. Self-confidence increases when subordinates look with respect, catch every word and consult on the adoption of any decisions.
- Good time management. A person who is forced to lead people and deliver projects on time must be able to manage his time. Practice in this matter is of great importance. A person who has learned how to manage an organization can easily organize his own life and plan everything to the smallest detail.
- Willpower. A person who bears a great responsibility should be able to make decisions quickly and without hesitation. Even if the decision goes against the personal qualities of a person, he must be able to take his will into a fist and sign an agreement or make an important decision.
- High pay. Not the last role is played by salary. People who occupy a good position have the opportunity to travel, live in comfortable conditions and not worry about tomorrow.
Cons of power
The concept and types of power in management were discussed above. A person who holds a leadership position has not only the advantages of a frivolous life, but also many disadvantages. What are they like?
- Responsibility. The leader is always responsible not only for his actions, but also for the activities of his subordinates. The manager must be prepared for the fact that he can be condemned for mistakes that he did not commit. Any malfunction in production is considered the fault of the head. And it does not matter that the subordinate who was unable to properly manage his duties is really to blame.
- It is difficult to find harmony between all areas of life. A person who holds a high position in the management of a company often cannot find a balance between his personal and work activities. A person may not have enough time for entertainment, for traveling, or for communicating with loved ones.
- Loneliness. Good leaders, like good teachers, should devote all their time to work. Such people rarely have a family and children. And if there is a family, then she rarely sees a high-ranking person at home.
- Constant stress. Responsibility makes a person very nervous. For this reason, good leaders can hold a responsible position for no more than 10 years. After this period, they begin to lose their nerves and often the situation comes to a mental disorder.