The difficult problem of power and politics in a modern organization
1. Introduction
The difficult problem of power and politics in a modern organization receives a great attention recent years influenced by changing cultural traditions and new management techniques. The leadership is one of the most important factors which provides an effective management in the organization. The leader should have an ability to control people and resources, to motivate employees and to make strategic decisions. But the fact that the leader has a great power can have a negative impact on the organization because of potential conflicts and abuses. The effective management of power and politics is the big challenge for the leaders in the contemporary organizations.
2. The difficult problem of power and politics in a modern organization
The concept “power” is defined in many ways, but always refers to the ability of an individual or group to influence others (Dictionary.com, 2016). According to Robbins et al. (2014), there are five bases of power: coercion, reward, legitimate, expert and referent. Coercive power is based on fear and threat of punishment. Reward power is based on ability to give positive reinforcement such as bonuses or privileges. Legitimate power comes from a person’s position in an organization, such as CEO or manager. Expert power comes from special skills or knowledge. Referent power comes from respect or admiration that others have for a person. All these types of power can be used by leaders in organizations to influence employees, but some of them can lead to negative consequences because they are based on fear or manipulation.
Politics in organizations is defined as “activities associated with the making of decisions that define an organization’s goals, strategies, and policies, and the allocation of its resources” (Robbins et al., 2014, p. 461). Politics can be positive if it leads to better decision making, but it can also be negative if it leads to conflict and infighting. Power and politics are closely related because they both involve the use of influence to achieve desired outcomes.
The difficult problem of power and politics in a modern organization receives a great attention recent years influenced by changing cultural traditions and new management techniques
3. New approaches to leadership and power
There are many different approaches to leadership and each leader has his own style of leadership influenced by personal qualities and organizational culture. The most popular styles of leadership are autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire (Robbins et al., 2014). Autocratic leaders make decisions without consulting others, while democratic leaders seek input from others before making decisions. Laissez-faire leaders allow subordinates to make most decisions without interference. All these styles of leadership have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation. For example, autocratic leadership may be necessary in times of crisis when quick decisions need to be made, but it can also lead to resentment among employees if used all the time.
The concept of emotional intelligence has been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to improve leadership effectiveness (Goleman, 1995). Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Emotionally intelligent leaders are able to create a positive work environment where employees feel motivated and engaged. They are also better able to resolve conflicts quickly before they escalate into major problems.
4. Cultural traditions and new management techniques
The idea of emotional intelligence is based on the concept of cultural intelligence, which is the ability to understand and interact effectively with people from different cultures (Earley & Ang, 2003). In today’s globalized world, it is becoming increasingly important for leaders to have cultural intelligence. With the rise of multicultural organizations, there is a need for leaders who can bridge cultural differences and create a cohesive work environment.
One of the latest trends in management is the use of social media and other digital technologies to improve communication and collaboration. Social media can be used to connect employees who are working in different locations, as well as to connect with customers and other stakeholders. Digital technologies can also be used to create virtual teams where members can work together on projects even if they are not physically in the same location. These new management techniques are changing the way work is done and requiring leaders to adapt their styles of leadership.
5. Conclusion
The difficult problem of power and politics in a modern organization receives a great attention recent years influenced by changing cultural traditions and new management techniques. The leadership is one of the most important factors which provides an effective management in the organization. The leader should have an ability to control people and resources, to motivate employees and to make strategic decisions. But the fact that the leader has a great power can have a negative impact on the organization because of potential conflicts and abuses. The effective management of power and politics is the big challenge for the leaders in the contemporary organizations.
There are many different approaches to leadership and each leader has his own style of leadership influenced by personal qualities and organizational culture. The most popular styles of leadership are autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire. Autocratic leaders make decisions without consulting others, while democratic leaders seek input from others before making decisions. Laissez-faire leaders allow subordinates to make most decisions without interference. All these styles of leadership have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation.
The concept of emotional intelligence has been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to improve leadership effectiveness. Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Emotionally intelligent leaders are able to create a positive work environment where employees feel motivated and engaged. They are also better able to resolve conflicts quickly before they escalate into major problems.
The idea of emotional intelligence is based on the concept of cultural intelligence, which is the ability to understand and interact effectively with people from different cultures. In today’s globalized world, it is becoming increasingly important for leaders to have cultural intelligence. With the rise of multicultural organizations, there is a need for leaders who can bridge cultural differences and create a cohesive work environment.
One of the latest trends in management is the use of social media and other digital technologies to improve communication and collaboration. Social media can be used to connect employees who are working in different locations, as well as to connect with customers and other stakeholders. Digital technologies can also be used to create virtual teams where members can work together on projects even if they are not physically in the same location. These new management techniques are changing the way work is done and requiring leaders to adapt their styles of leadership