Power
What comes to mind
when you hear that word? Do you envision you standing on the top of a mountain
your team around you cheering you on? Or is it a shared comradery of success?
While you tell the team member next to you great job. Or do you pay each member twenty dollars for
joining you on a Sunday hike?
When you are working
with teams of people you are automatically given certain control in the
situation. You control their paychecks, raises, how they do their job and how
others view them. This is an important role but also one that shouldn’t be
taken lightly. You can change the future
of someone for good or bad. You can help them achieve their dreams or you can
crush what they have worked their whole life for. This power should be used
correctly and carefully.
Each type of power has
a different purpose and will affect your team differently. The three types of
power according to Stephen Covey (1990) are coercive power, utility power or
legitimate power.
Coercive power is
controlling and forces people to do things under duress. When you are this type
of leader people don’t necessarily respect you or do things to help you out
because they want to but because they are afraid of what you hold over their
head. This type of leader does not instill trust nor does it build respect
among teammates. For your dental business it could jeopardize the relationship
with your patients.
Utility power is power
that makes promises. It is a guarantee of a paycheck, or some reward. In the
dental office, your team may step up with patients to gain a bonus or because
in the end they are earning a paycheck. This
power is not necessarily bad however, in the end legitimate power is the power
you want to move your team forward, because utility power only works if you
have something to offer.
Legitimate power is
true trust that you have earned. This
offers team support for a shared purpose. Individuals in your organization will
step up because it is an effort that will best support the goals. It is a
shared mission and vision along with a deeply routed trust for you as their
leader.
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