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Brain Circuits
How to get power
Leaders are always trying to figure out how to get more social power at work. So, how do you develop your social power with the groups and teams around you?
To exercise social power over other people, you need to harness various bases of power. There are three broad types here:
1. ‘Innate’ bases of power
These are often taboo in the sense that they are the things that we’re born with that we cannot change – but we need to acknowledge that they are genuine bases of power. They include, but are not limited to:
- Gender
- Physical attractiveness
- Height (for men, at least)
- Family name
- Skin color
- Age
- Language or accent
2. ‘Primary’ bases of power
These are things that you can actively work to achieve, and which will help to elevate your power in the system. These include:
- Education
- Training
- Knowledge of the system you’re working in
- Your workplace support network
- Reputation – what are people saying about you?
- Network centrality – do people have to go through you to get things or to get to people that they want?
- Allies
3. ‘Secondary’ bases of power
These derive from primary bases of power but reside in the hierarchy:
- Hierarchical position
- Network and network centrality
- The ability to reward and punish
- Resources such as team size or P&L control
Key takeaway
Bases of power are mutually reinforcing. If you have more allies in the system, you’re more likely to move up in the hierarchy. And, if you build your reputation so that people say positive things about you, it will help you become a more central player in the system, allowing you to exercise more power in your work environment.
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