and control over information and can be used in both positive (sharing) and neg-
ative (withholding) ways in the organization.3 How does dependency affect power?To maximize your power, you will want to
increase others’ dependence on you. You can, for instance, increase your power in
relation to your employer by developing knowledge or a skill that he or she needs
and for which there is no ready substitute. However, you will not be alone in try-
ing to build your bases of power. Others, particularly employees and peers, will
seek to make you dependent on them. While you try to maximize others’ depend-
ence on you, you will be trying to minimize your dependence on others. Of course,
others you work with will be trying to do the same. The result is a continual strug-
gle for power.
4 What tactics can be used to increase power?One particular study identified
nine tactics, or strategies, that managers and employees use to increase their power:
rational persuasion, inspirational appeals, consultation, ingratiation, personal
appeals, exchange, coalition tactics, pressure, and legitimating tactics.^83
5 What does it mean to be empowered?Empowerment refers to the freedom and
the ability of employees to make decisions and commitments. There is a lot of
positive press on empowerment. However, much of the talk of empowerment in
organizations does not result in employees’ being empowered. Some managers
do not fully understand how to go about empowering their employees, and others
find it difficult to share their power with employees. As well, some employees have
little or no interest in being empowered, and empowerment is not something that
works well in every culture.
6 How are power and harassment related?People who engage in harassment in
the workplace are typically abusing their power position. Harassment can come
in many forms, from gross abuse of power toward anyone of lower rank, to abuse
of individuals because of their personal characteristics, such as race, religion,
national origin, and gender.
7 Why do people engage in politics?People use politics to influence others to
help them achieve their personal objectives. Whenever people get together in
groups, power will be exerted. People also use impression management to influence
people. Impression management is the process by which individuals attempt to
control the impression others form of them. Though politics is a natural occur-
rence in organizations, when it is carried to an extreme it can damage relation-
ships among individuals.
Chapter 7Power and Politics 2413 Dependency: The Key to
Power
The General Dependency
Postulate
What Creates Dependency?
4 Influence Tactics
5 Empowerment: Giving
Power to Employees
Definition of Empowerment
Empowerment in the
Workplace
6 The Abuse of Power:
Harassment in the
Workplace
Workplace Bullying
Sexual Harassment
7 Politics: Power in Action
Definition of Political
Behaviour
The Reality of Politics
Types of Political Activity
Impression Management
Making Office Politics Work