Leadership, Leadership, Power & PoliticsPower & Politics

““Power…Power…the capacity to translate intention into the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it. reality and sustain it. Leadership is the wise use of this Leadership is the wise use of this power… vision is the commodity of power… vision is the commodity of leaders, and power is their currency.”leaders, and power is their currency.” (Bennis and Nanus, 1991)

Leadership and PowerLeadership and Power

‘Before I served as a consultant to President Kennedy, I had

believed that the process of decision-making was largely

intellectual and all one had to do was walk into the President’s

office and convince him of the correctness of one’s view.

This perspective I soon realized is as dangerously

immature as it is widely held’. Henry A. Kissinger

"Those who do not know the plans of competitors cannot prepare alliances.

Those who do not know the lay of the land cannot manoeuvre their f orces.

Those who do not use local guides

cannot take advantage of the ground."

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

‘‘Power Types’Power Types’(French and Raven, 1991)(French and Raven, 1991)

Social PowerSocial Power"the capacity to "the capacity to exert influence exert influence over others." over others."

Reward PowerFollower believes: leader can give reward forcompliance with directives, i.e. improved pay,promotion, praise, recognition, privileges etc.

Coercive PowerFollower believes: leader has power to punish orbring about undesirable outcomes, i.e. withholdprivilege, disciplinary action, dismissal etc.

Legitimate PowerFollower believes: leader has a right to exertinfluence because of the status or role withinorganisation. Based on authority - also knownas position power. (Go along with their decision because they’re the “BOSS”

Expert PowerFollower believes: leader has expert knowledge, iscompetent. Credibility - provides clear evidence ofknowledge. Can be limited to well defined areas orspecialisms.

Referent PowerFollower believes: identification with the leaderexists - attractiveness, personal characteristics,reputation, ‘charisma’. Leader commandsrespect. Not always authority.

Information / Connectional PowerGained through non-formal communication channels (“grapevine”) & networks

Politics may be defined as:

“the assumptions or principles

relating to a theory or activity in a

society or organisation especially

concerned with power and status.”

New Oxford Dictionary of English (2001)

Politics shape the health service and the policies that impact on the health and well being of people.

(Antrobus, 2004)

Political awareness is an

understanding of:• the bigger national, political picture about health care;

• the key agendas for one’s own organisation;

• power and authority;

• how to influence so as to lead and shape policy and services at a local level.

Action with

integrity

Politically Unaware

Psychological Game Playing

Politically AwareClever

InnocentInept

Wise