Academic Leadership: Fundamental Building Blocks
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Table 2: Types of Power and Influencing Tactics (after French & Raven, 1959)
Positional power type Related influencing tactic(s)
legitimate legitimization
consultation
rational persuasion
ingratiation
reward exchange
coercive pressure
connection coalitions
Personal power type Related influencing tactic(s)
information rational persuasion
expert rational persuasion
referent inspirational appeal
personal appeal
From Table 2 you can see that using either positional or personal power is not about
authoritarian control. Tactics such as consultation, exchange (or bargaining) and
inspirational appeal are more effective in most situations than directives.
Effective Academic Coordinators can use both positional and personal power
appropriately to do things such as getting items on and off agendas, getting fast access
to decision makers and getting early information about shifts in direction. They do this
by exerting influence and managing upwards. Their power often comes from their ability
to understand and sometimes pre-empt their line manager's needs. This means they
can lighten his/her responsibilities. The reciprocal benefit for the Academic Coordinator
is increased power and influence,
You may be able to increase your personal power by considering the following
questions:
- What ongoing problems do your Head of School (HOS) and peers generally face –
how can you help solve them?
- What are the biggest challenges faced by your HOS and your peers?
- What are your Head of School's strengths and weaknesses and preferred styles of
operating?
- Where do your own talents and expertise lie – how do they complement those of
your HOS and your peers?
