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IT Management Slideshow:
11 Elements of Power

By Dennis McCafferty on 2011-01-19


"Being powerful is like being a lady," former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said. "If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." Here's the point: You can't just stand up and announce to a room of colleagues and employees that you're powerful. Nor does this quality automatically come with your job title. Power, it seems, must be earned. And -- like a marathon runner training day-in, day-out -- cultivating power is a constant exercise. This is the contention of the book The Elements of Power: Lessons on Leadership and Influence(Amacom/Available now). Author Terry R. Bacon distinguishes 11 clearly defined elements of power and conveys how CIOs and other executives can effectively adapt behaviors and best practices to exude this characteristic. The critical components of power aren't really about money, job status or social standing. Bacon reveals that personal qualities are far more influential within an organization. Bacon is a leadership/management expert, coach and consultant and founder of the Lore International Institute, an executive development firm recently acquired by the Korn/Ferry Institute, where he now serves as a scholar in residence.

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Knowledge = power

Knowledge is also class-agnostic—anyone can get it if they have the determination and savvy to do so.

Focus on knowledge that differentiates you.

The unique quality of your knowledge that makes you distinctly powerful—not the ability to command a large quantity of useless facts.

Articulation and eloquence exude power.

Effective speakers use strong images and results-based examples to capture audiences.

Articulation and eloquence matter whenever you communicate.

It's not only about how you perform in public speaking scenarios. Articulation and eloquence matter in meetings large and small, in casual conversation, in formal memos and in day-to-day e-mails and text messages.

Capacity to lead is directly tied to the strength of your relationships.

These strengths are often based upon reciprocal relationships. For you to influence others, you must demonstrate a receptiveness to be influenced by them.

Like anything worthwhile, relationships need the investment of time.

Make demands too quickly and the relationship will sour. Instead, let it grow over months, years through repeated acts of professional/personal commitment.

Character counts.

With it, employees, peers and senior execs will trust your intentions.

Relying solely on negative motivators will eventually diminish your power.

Constantly threatening "consequences" with no rewards will inspire your teams to plot against you.

Confidence creates a positive impression.

Confidence makes a leader appear in control and in charge—even when he or she is internally uncertain.

Physical appearance matters.

You don't need to be George Clooney or Julia Roberts. But, always appear well-groomed, and use posture and eye-contact that says: Leader. (Staying fit helps too.)

Evaluate your turnover rate.

Employees vote with their feet if they sense that staying in your department is a dead-end path because you lack power in the organization.

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