Power Survey 2000 - Analysis

... continued from Power Survey 2000 - Initial Results

No Power, only Influence

Many people replied that they had no power, only influence. Perhaps this is not so surprising. What was unexpected was the number of Directors and Senior Managers who also claimed this. I suspect that anyone reporting to them may well feel differently. Curiously, I even had one Director wondering if he even had any influence, and most worryingly of all, an HR Director who confessed that their role was more like being the MD's PA! Also, my own experience of working in organisations taught me that it doesn't matter if the organisational chart is flat, circular to tapezoid in shape, everyone knows who the powerful people in the team are, regardless of title.

Power is a Dirty and Dangerous Word

Some people in the survey got quite upset about the whole thing. One was even offended because the survey question dared to suggest that they might have power. Some warned me that power comes with "grave responsibilities" and a few questioned my credentials for doing this kind of work. Others were warily interested but demanded anonymity (this was explicitly guaranteed in my email) and asked me to send them results, but to other email addresses, presumably to prevent anyone in their organisation finding out. This seems like the email equivalent of buying something and demanding it in a plain brown wrapper!

Many people then seem to have an attitude to power and influence which is similar to the Victorian attitude to sex. Everybody's doing it, but we must under no circumstances talk about it!

Power is Contextual and Cultural

Power and influence appear contextual. In one meeting I might be using my experience, expertise and know how, but in another I might be trying to influence people through the use of my empathy and awareness. It all depends on whom I am trying to influence and the given context of the situation.

Organisational culture also seems significant in giving people messages about what is an acceptable strategy or not. My experience though is that people use whatever strategy they think will work, whether it is culturally or politically correct or not. The relative privacy of email provided people with an opportunity to "confess" their less savoury as well as some very bizarre sources. Below is a small selection.

Kellogg's Corn Flakes - This is perhaps more of a hygiene factor, in other words, if I miss my Kellogg's I feel less powerful?
Volume - this came with the attachment "he (or she) who talks loudest in meetings gets heard".
Animal Cunning - Notice the twin implications of stealth and danger! This one came from an HR professional, which belies the traditional image perhaps?
Blackmail - The database also contains quite an unpleasant selection of words like coercion, intimidation etc.
High Heels - You will be relieved to know this came from a female.
Breasts - Along with High Heels and Breasts, from women I also got good looks, youth, femininity, female vulnerability and a range of other less "politically correct" replies. From the men I tended to get more guarded and obvious responses at first, but many PS's - the following quote being typical. "Actually Mike, if I am really honest about this, I have been known to use the fact that I am relatively young, good looking and still have all my own teeth and hair, to influence people, women especially".
Guardian Angels - I like the implication here that there are people in high places who are looking out for me. So much sexier than "mentoring" which came up quite a bit.
Bullshit - Sad but true. Perhaps related to Volume and if we think about it we probably know at least one person in our organisation who uses these together.
Blagging - The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines blagging as "robbery, especially with violence." I am grateful to Gary Miles at Roffey Park for pointing out that this is probably derived from "Blaggard."

... continued in Power Survey 2000 - Conclusions

This is an extract from an article written by Mike Phipps for Training Journal in 2000.