Chapter 10 – Broker
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It is also important that you:- Keep your HOS and program team informed of your activities and any problems that
arise that may affect them sooner or later. But don’t tell them everything – protect
them from unimportant or unwanted matters. - Avoid secretive and hidden agendas. Remember the Johari window and the
importance of the open frame. Do not keep your HOS or peers in the blind window
and do not invest in the hidden or private window. - Be recognised for being dependable, consistent, and creative.
- Listen carefully for multiple perspectives.
- Give credit when it is due.
Other ways of building your personal power (Carlopio, Andrewartha, & Armstrong,
2001) include:
- Expanding your area of expertise. For example, becoming highly skilled in areas
related to curriculum innovation and review, e-learning and assessment. Building
knowledge can enhance your power and influence. - Impression management. Goleman (2000) argued having high interpersonal and
intrapersonal insight helps you to manage how others see you and their expectations
of you. Impression management is also about agreeable behaviour and a neat and
tidy appearance. If you are able to manage impressions about yourself and have
high personal attraction, your arguments are more likely to be accepted by other co-
workers and you will be seen as more trustworthy. This makes you more influential. - Loyalty and honesty. These results in unconditional positive regard and acceptance
also build your personal attraction. Being able to sympathise and empathise when
necessary and engage in the social exchanges necessary to sustain relationships
are critical skills for building your personal attraction, influence and power. - Expending personal effort will also increase your influence especially if you work
hard on those projects that support your line manager and peers. This in turn
increases your knowledge and you are more likely to be consulted when key
decisions are being made. At managerial levels, high effort is also seen as a sign of
dedication and commitment. It is interpreted very positively by your line manager
and peers if your efforts lead to the organisation reaching its goals. - You can also increase your influence by looking at where you position yourself in
your role as Academic Coordinator (see Figure 11).