Week 6 - Leadership Paper

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Week 6 - Leadership Paper Carson-Newman University MGT 525: Leadership for Today & Tomorrow
Leadership Paper Power is the ability to influence others (Johnson & Hackman, 2018). There are many advantages and disadvantages that come with power. In order to become a good leader and do right by followers, it is essential to find ways to lessen the negatives that come from having power. There are many types of power, such as reward, coercive, legitimate, expert, referent, and informational. Reward power involves assigning direct or indirect, material or psychological compensation (Krausz, 1986). This kind of power offers incentives in exchange for compliance, motivating individuals to achieve goals. On the other hand, relying too much on rewards can create dependency. Rewards must be desirable and attractive to serve as a sufficient motivator if the individuals focus on an organization's performance (Johnson & Hackman, 2018). Coercive power is based on threatening negative consequences for particular actions (Gabel, 2012). Threats and punishments are used in order to get compliance from individuals. This kind of power can be detrimental to relationships, causing a lack of trust and resentment. Legitimate power is based on one's position or title, making it easier to make decisions and enforce rules (Johnson & Hackman, 2018). This kind of power can lead to abuse of authority if one does not balance it with accountability (Gabel, 2012). Expert power is a person's influence based on knowledge, experience, and expertise (Gabel, 2012). Although, it can create arrogance and alienate others who feel inferior. People with credentials are more potent than those without appropriate certification and are perceived as an expert more readily than others (Johnson & Hackman, 2018). Referent power rises from personal charisma, respect, and trust. The individual becomes the object of reference for the person who is the influence target, thus influencing the beliefs and values of people with referent power (Gabel, 2012). This power is difficult to maintain and may only work with some. Once depleted, it must be replenished by engaging in behavior that will produce new feelings of affection, esteem, and support (Johnson & Hackman, 2018). Informational power is based on access to and how one distributes data (Johnson & Hackman, 2018). This form of power overlaps in
some areas with expert power (Gabel, 2012). Access to information allows effective decision-making but can lead to mistrust and manipulation. Nehemiah uses all of the types of power that were explained. Nehemiah showed the use of reward power by providing food and shelter to the workers and inspiring them with a shared vision of rebuilding the city. Nehemiah used coercion when facing opposition while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. When Nehemiah was appointed governor, he showed fairness and responsibility by addressing the people's concerns and holding corrupt officials accountable, showing the use of legitimate power. He earned referent power through his dedication and integrity. He built strong relationships and worked alongside the people, aligning his actions with his words. Nehemiah shared information transparently with his team, fostering trust and collaboration. He communicated openly about the project's progress and challenges.
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