POWER AND POLITICS

Professional Development & leadership

in Healthcare
Semester III
Post RN BScN Session 2018

Jehanzeb khan Yousafzai

RN, MSc N, Post RN. BScN, DiP. Card,
Jzk_yz@hotmail.com
Nursing Instructor
College of Nursing,PIMS, Islamabad
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of session the students will be able to,
Define power.
Describe the types of power in an organization.
Understand the rules of using power.
Define authority & understand the guidelines for
using authority.
Define organizational politics.
Elaborate the steps and tools for using political
action in an organization.
POWER

 Power is the potential ability to

influence others. (Hersey, 2011).
 Power refers to the possession of authority and
influence over others.
TYPES OF POWER
There are seven generally accepted types of
interpersonal power used in organizations:
1.REWARD POWER:

 Based on use of inducements the manager can

offer group members in exchange for
cooperation and contributions that advance the
manager’s objectives.
 E.g. paid educational leaves for RN who agreed
to work overtime
2. COERCIVE (Forced) POWER:

 Based on penalties a manager might impose on

an individual or a group.
 Motivation to comply is based on fear of
punishment or withholding of rewards.
 E.g. making undesirable job assignments for
nurse.
3. LEGITIMATE (Authentic) POWER:

 Stems from the manager’s right to

make a request because of the
authority associated with job and rank in an
organizational hierarchy.
 Followers obey because they accept a
manager’s privilege.
Cont.…

E.g. RN comply with manager directive to take

time off without pay when work load have
dropped, because of understanding that
manager has to maintain unit expenses within
budget limitation.
4. EXPERT POWER:

 Based on possession of unique skills,

knowledge and competence.
 Employ comply because they respect the
manager’s experience.
5. REFERENT POWER:

 Based on admiration and respect for an

individual.
 Follower comply because they like and identify
with the manager.
 E.g a new graduate ask advice of a more
experienced and admired nurse about career
planning
6. INFORMATION POWER:

 Based on access to valued data.

 Follower comply because they want information
for their own needs.
 E.g. A nurse manager may exercise information
power by sharing significant information at staff
meetings, thereby improving attendance.
7. CONNECTION POWER:

 Based on an individual’s formal and informal

links to influential or prestigious persons within
and outside organization.
 Followers comply because they want to be
linked to influential individuals.
RULES FOR USING POWER
Use the least amount of power, to become
effective in interaction with others.
Use power appropriate to the situation.
Learn when not to use power.
Focus on problem, not the person.
Make polite requests, not arrogant demands.
Use pressure only, when other methods don’t
work.
AUTHORITY

 It is the formal right given to a

manager to command or to
give orders to perform certain
task.
• A manager gets his authority from his position or
post. The lower and middle-level managers get
authority from top level managers. The top level
managers get authority from stakeholders.
 GUIDELINES FOR USING LEGITIMATE
AUTHORITY

Make polite, clear requests.

Don’t exceed your scope of authority.
Verify authority if necessary.
Follow proper channel.
Follow-up to verify compliance.
Insist on compliance if appropriate.
RESPONSIBILITY
It is the obligation of a manager to carry out
the duties assigned to him.
AUTHORITY
Right to give orders and power to exact
obedience from others in process of discharging
responsibility.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Employees answerability on using authority in
discharging responsibility is termed accountability
ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS

Those activities that are not required as part of one’s

formal role in the organization, but that influence or
attempt to influence the distribution of advantage
within the organization.
(Farrell and Peterson)
STEPS IN POLITICAL ACTION

Determine what you want.

Learn about the players and what they want.
Gather supporter and form coalition.
Be prepared to answer opponents.
Explain how what you want can help them.
 TOOLS FOR USING POWER AND
POLITICS IN ORGANIZATION
Learn formal line of authority.
Identify key decision makers and build strong &
credible relationship with them.
Identify their priorities & how those affect any
new initiatives.
Learn the rules for using power and put them
into practice.
Cont…

Offer solution to problems & take advantage of

new opportunities.
Be willing to take new task that lead to more
responsibility.
Pay attention to influential people and adopt
their strategies if appropriate.
Learn strategies for working with public officials.