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What is powerlessness?

-Opposite of Power -It may be more correct to say that powerlessness, not power, corrupts. -Although power is a universally available resource that does not have a finite quality, it can be lost as well as gained.

How to Bridge the Authority-Power Gap?

-Overt displays of authority should be used as a last resort. -The leader should make a genuine effort to know and care about each subordinate as a unique individual. -The manager needs to provide enough information about organizational and unit goals to subordinates so that they understand how their efforts and those of their manager are contributing to goal attainment.

What is Power?

-The authority and ability to get things accomplished -The capacity or potential to get others to do something one wants them to do that they would not ordinarily do otherwise -The potential of an individual or group to influence the behavior of others -Gives one the potential to change the attitudes and behaviors of individual people and groups

What is the authority gap?

-The gap that sometimes exists between a position of authority and subordinate response -The right to command does not ensure that employees will follow orders. -The more power subordinates perceive a manager to have, the smaller the gap between the right to expect certain things and the resulting fulfillment of those expectations by others.

What are strategies to build a personal power base?

1. Maintain personal energy. 2. Present a powerful picture to others. 3. Work hard and be a team players. 4. Determine the powerful in the organization. 5. Learn the language and symbols of the organization. 6. Learn how to use the organization's priorities. 7. Increase professional skills and knowledge. 8. Maintain a broad vision. 9. Use experts and seek counsel. 10. Be flexible. 11. Develop visibility and voice in the organization. 12. Learn to accept compliments. 13.Maintain a sense of humor. 14.Empower others.

What are the 6 driving forces to increase nursing's power base?

1. The timing is right 2. The size of the nursing profession 3. Nursing's referent power 4. Increasing knowledge base and education for nurses 5. Nursing's unique perspective 6.Desire of consumers and providers for change

Management Functions Associated with Organizational, Political, and Personal Power

1. Uses authority to ensure that organizational goals are met. 2. Uses political strategies that are complementary to the unit and organization's functioning. 3. Builds a power base appropriate for the assigned management role. 4. creates and maintains a small authority-power gap. 5. is knowledgeable about the essence and appropriate use of power. 6. Maintains personal credibility with subordinates. 7. Avoids using power over others rather than on behalf of others whenever possible. 8. demonstrates reasoned risk taking in decision making with political implications. 9. Uses reward power, coercive power, legitimate power, and expert power when appropriate to positively influence the achievement of organizational goals. 10. Avoids visible displays of legitimate power and overusing commands. 11. Understands the organizational structure in which he/she works, functions effectively within that structure, and deals effectively with the institution's inherent politics. 12. promotes subordinate identification and recognition.

What is the action plan for increasing the Power of the nursing profession?

1. place more nurses in positions that influence public policy. 2. stop nurses from acting like victims. 3. increase level of nurses' understanding regarding all health-care policy efforts. 4. Build coalitions within and outside of nursing. 5. promote greater research to strengthen evidence-based practice. 6. support nursing leaders. 7. pay attention to mentoring future nurse-leaders and leadership succession.

How to Negate the Effects of Organizational Politics?

1.Be an expert handler of information and communication. 2.Be a proactive decision maker. 3.Expand personal resources. 4.Develop political alliances and coalitions. Be sensitive to timing. Promote subordinate identification. 5.View personal and unit goals in terms of the organization. 6. Leave your ego home in a jar.

If a manager asks personal questions of employees, how does this affect the authority-power gap? A. Widens it B. Narrows it

A. Widens it Rationale: When a manager expresses personal interest in employees, this widens the authority-power gap.

Type of Power: Reward what is the source?

Ability to grant favors

Type of Power: Referent What is the source?

Association with others: -It is the power that a person has because others identify with that leader or with what that leader symbolizes.

Empowering subordinates often undermines one's own power. True or False

B. False Rationale: Empowering subordinates is in fact one essential strategy to maintain power.

A nurse who lobbies for changes in evidence-based nursing practice is using a reactive approach to policy setting. True or False

B. False Rationale: Changing nurse's view of both power and politics is perhaps the most significant key to proactive rather than reactive participation in policy setting.

What is the significant key to proactive rather than reactive participation in policy setting?

Changing nurse's view of both power and politics

Which of the following is not a rule for keeping power? A. Form alliances B. Do homework C. Practice benign neglect D. Be competitive

D. Be competitive Rationale: It is more advantageous to avoid competition.

When does empowerment occurs?

Empowerment occurs when: -Leaders communicate their vision -Employees are given the opportunity to make the most of their talents Learning, creativity, and exploration are encouraged Empowerment plants seeds of leadership, collegiality, self-respect, and professionalism

Type of Power: Coercive What is the source?

Fear

What is the queen bee syndrome?

Female-dominated professions often exemplify the queen bee syndrome. The queen bee is a woman who has struggled to become successful, but once successful, she refuses to help other women reach the same success.

Type of Power: Expert what is the source?

Knowledge and skill

Leadership Roles Associated with Organizational, Political, and Personal Power

LEADERSHIP ROLES 1. creates a climate that promotes followership in response to authority. 2. recognizes the dual pyramid of power that exists between the organization and its employees. 3. Uses a powerful persona and referent power to increase respect and decrease fear in subordi- nates 4. recognizes when it is appropriate to have authority questioned or to question authority. 5. is personally comfortable with power in the political arena. 6. empowers others whenever possible. 7. Assists others in using appropriate political strategies. 8. serves as a role model of the empowered nurse. 9. strives to eliminate a perception of powerlessness among others. 10. is vigilant in using power judiciously and mindfully. 11. role models political skill in developing consensus, inclusion, and follower involvement. 12. Builds alliances and coalitions inside and outside of nursing.

What are the four things required for keeping/maintaining power?

Maintaining a small authority-power gap Empowering subordinates whenever possible Using authority in such a manner that subordinates view what happens in the organization as necessary Using political strategies to maintain power and authority when necessary

What is the negative effect of a wide authority-power gap?

Organizational chaos may develop

Type of Power: Charismatic What is the source?

Personal

Type of Power: Legitimate What is the source?

Position

Type of Power: Informational What is the source?

The need for information

Although power is a universally available resource, it does not have a finite quality and can be lost as well as gain. True or False

True

Empowerment plants seeds of what?

leadership, collegiality, self-respect, and professionalism