Recognizing and Understanding Power in a Power-Hungry World

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.   Abraham Lincoln

All human beings possess power. The question we must ask ourselves on a continuing basis is how will we use or not use that power, and how will we allow others to exert their power over us?

What is Power?

If you look up the definition of power you will see that it is a noun or a verb describing an ability or action to influence or move people, places or things. People, and organizations use power to achieve goals and achieve dominance over others. Just as in the TV series “Game of Thrones” the struggle for power can be like a chess game where each move is a strategic move to gain dominance over the opponent and win the game. Power can be both good and bad…it depends on how it is used. A President of a country’s use of power to advance an economic or humanitarian agenda is usually a good use of power. Dictators, on the other hand, using power to suppress or repress people is a bad use of power. A company using their size and economic strength to crush a smaller competitor or innovation is not necessarily a good use of power. A company using its size and economic strength to introduce a new industry or market-changing innovation can be a good use of power. An individual using their influence to help you get or lose a job can be either a good or bad use of power.

There is one theory of thought that before you can gain any sense of power in your life you must first accept your powerlessness over life circumstances themselves, and the effect they will have on you.  In other words, life is going to happen whether you want it to or not and you are powerless over the course that it will take and your only power will be to accept and adapt to that course of life. Once you can accept the reality of that situation you can begin forward progress and make positive headway.

How many times have you encountered a situation that seemed like a brick wall standing in the way of you reaching your desired goal?  Perhaps it was the education or experience you lacked that stood in the way of getting a job or career that you wanted. Or maybe it was your fear and shyness in entering a conversation with someone you admired and wanted to get to know. Perhaps it was a second piece of cake when you were trying to lose weight that got in the way of your diet plans. Perhaps it was a child, a student, a colleague or employer at work who no matter what you said or did would not see your side of a situation. Every day we are confronted with situations over which we have no control and seem powerless.  Perhaps if we had a better understanding of what power is and how it works we would be better equipped to handle these situations.

Individual Power

Individuals use power generally to advance an idea or position, to gain an advantage or to dominate another. Parents, for example use power in rearing their children. They use this power to maintain authority and respect, to teach, to influence, mentor or guide, or perhaps to discipline their children. Friends will often use power in their relationships to obtain a desired response or action, or maybe to do a favor or a kindness for a compatriot. Individuals will often use power in their careers to get ahead or gain an advantage over a rival. Or perhaps, they will use their power to achieve a goal to impress their employer.

Organizational Power

Organizations are basically hierarchical in nature and as such, ambitious individuals will seek to increase in rank with the ultimate goal to rise to the top. As these employees move up the pecking order they will seek to obtain power to secure and maintain their position. In this quest for power it is only natural that they will adopt various techniques, or games to amass and maintain power. Most often organizations grant individuals power by title and rank which they use to reinforce that position and rank and to achieve results for the organization. Some, however, use that power in harmful ways that hurt the organization, their employees and ultimately themselves.

Both individually and in organizations four types of people emerge around issues of power. Leaders are quick to recognize and accept power and attempt to utilize it in a positive manner. Sympathizers will wait to what does or does not work before they will step forward and either accept or reject power. Resistors are not quite sure where they stand and want to stay out of any compromising situation and resist power altogether. Opponents will fight anyone who steps forward to accept power as they are opposed to change and support the status quo.

Let’s look at some of the methods that people and organizations use to amass and use power and how you can use knowledge to counter these methods and claim your own power in these situations.

Technique vs. Technology or Expert vs. Generalist

In my doctoral dissertation I explored a use of power I described as “Technique vs. Technology.” I identified technique as a single tool or process used to achieve a specific goal or objective.  Grammatically, technology is the plural of technique and by that definition is an ensemble of tools or processes used to achieve goals or objectives. In my dissertation, I posited that often individuals or organizations will use expertise in a technique as a means to establish their power over certain segments of their environment. Have you ever been intimidated by someone’s expertise? Have you ever been told that you know nothing about a subject or discussion so you have no right to comment? Have you ever been overwhelmed by a salesperson who keeps throwing technical terms at you in attempt to get you to purchase? Have you experienced a person or department, or function in your circle or organization who uses their expertise to gain or maintain power and authority?

Society has coopted the word technology to mean primarily a singular technique, usually digital or electronic to achieve a goal. You cannot create the ensemble of technology without the individual pieces. However, when technique is used to create a position of power and/or control over others it can become a detriment to the concept of technology. Technique can be exclusive or inclusive. When it is inclusive it is shared and dispersed among many who can utilize technique to improve performance. In this instance technique becomes part of the ensemble of technology. When it is exclusive, it is being hoarded and used to keep others away and thus provides a power base through which the individual can maintain control. For technique to be successful, it must be shared and allowed to become technology.

Often the most successful and powerful individuals and organizations are the one that use an ensemble of techniques, or technology, to achieve their goals. A drum solo can be dramatic but on its own uneventful. But put that drum in a band with guitars, a piano and other instruments it becomes part of an ensemble that can make great music.

Language Games

Language is used by everyone on a daily basis. We use it to communicate. Language conveys our ideas, our thoughts, our beliefs, our feelings, even our anger. Language can be complimentary and language can be destructive and hurtful. Language can also be used as a game.

Language games are primarily used as a means of power and control. A language game is that communication used to control the action or responses of others. Much like a game of chess, language is used strategically to elicit an anticipated response from the receiver, often in an effort to obtain power or control over both the individual and the situation. The speaker uses language as a means to get the listener to take an action or give them a response that they desire. Quite often, fear is the motivating factor in many of these games. The speaker is afraid that they will not get what they want so they feel that they need to manipulate the listener to comply with their desires. Language games are serious instruments of power in the hands of a skilled communicator.

Have you ever said to someone that a piece of pie or cake looks good in an attempt to get them to serve you a slice or share theirs? Has anyone ever asked you if you wanted to go somewhere as a way to get you to drive them there? Has anyone ever suggested that you take an action as a reward for achieving some other goal? These are all examples of language games. The objective in language games is to say something that will make the listener perform in a manner that the speaker desires. If the desired goal or action is achieved the game is successful. If not, the game is not successful and the speaker must approach it in another manner.

Language games are powerful forces in the struggle for power and control. However, if used incorrectly, they can render the user powerless and out of control. For example, have you ever had someone make a statement demanding something that you knew was not true and that person lost all credibility with you.

Many of our conversations are language games whether we mean them to be or not. Many are positive and many are manipulative. A word to the wise, be careful what you say!

Master Narrative

Throughout history mankind had sought understanding, knowledge and direction on the meaning of life. One method that man has used to satisfy and control this urge is the use of narrative. Google defines narrative as “a spoken or written account of connected events; a story.”  Two of the oldest and most accepted narratives are the Bible and the Koran. Both have been used to control behavior and direct the actions of its followers. At times, these master narratives have been altered to justify action or redirect the path its followers will take. For instance, think about how individuals like King Henry VIII, Martin Luther, Joseph Smith or even radical groups like Al Qaeda have altered narratives to justify their actions and chart a path of direction. 

I think you can also describe a narrative as a vision, which organizations use to direct action. Leaders have been using vision to drive activity and control the behavior of their organizations. Vision and mission statements are a form of master narrative which organizations use to motivate and direct employees towards objectives and performance. Most leaders will use planning and presentations to motivate and direct employees and to communicate or enforce a master narrative. Companies utilize publicity and advertising campaigns to communicate and reinforce their master narrative. Political parties and politicians use narrative in an effort to generate support for their viewpoint. How often have you used or heard a story to communicate an idea or point of view?

Narrative is a powerful force and used effectively can promote, enhance or achieve power for an individual or organization. It is a communication constructed around a central them that supports the goals of those in power. How much time did you spend in school studying History (His Story) which is the master narrative of the world?

Hegemonic Systems

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary define hegemony as the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group. In any organization all of its members hold power in one sense or another. It is the conflict between these individuals and the exertion of their power that gives formation to various hegemonic systems that arise within the organization. These hegemonic systems are built around conflict and a dominant power surfaces when the majority of the power brokers abdicate to one central player in the name of unity. A game begins when conflict arises, power is taken back and the hegemony shifts to a new position. The game goes on and on as the hegemony constantly shifts power from source to source as it seeks to maintain balance and unity.

Proxy fights within organizations create hegemonic systems. Differing views and desires within individuals or groups create hegemonic systems. Power struggles between individuals or groups create hegemonic systems. Any conflict or disagreement can create a hegemony as the individuals or groups struggle to balance power or seek reconciliation. In any conflict or disagreement no one wants to be wrong so there is a constant struggle for balance or a win-win situation.

Dictators use conflict and oppression to get citizens to bend to their will and abdicate their power. Autocratic employers and supervisors use intimidation and threats to intimidate employees and get them to perform. Yet these tactics only seem to work for the short term as people ultimately will tire of these tactics and leave or rebel.

How have you witness hegemony within your organization or group and what has it done to your environment and to you personally?  Effective leaders understand the nature of hegemony are quick to recognize and resolve any hegemonic situation. They understand that there will always be shifting bases of power that abdicate power to one dominant force in the name of organizational unity and growth. They want to ensure that it moves in a positive direction for the organization and its individuals and stakeholders.

Recognizing & Understanding Power Games

The better able you are to identify and understand various types of power games the better able you will be to operate within and around them. It is inevitable that power games will emerge within any relationship or organization. The question you need to ask yourself is do I want to play or how do I want this game to impact me? Your ability to see and recognize the game before you become enmeshed in it will enhance your own ability to maintain and gain power on your own and ensure that  it is appropriate, productive and positive.