Interpersonal Power and Influence in Organizations

Assembled by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD

Sections of This Topic Include:

Also consider these closely related topics and methods of influencing

Coaching
Counseling
Delegating
Employee Performance Management
Mentoring
Motivating
Rewarding Performance
Basics

Power

The concept of power often evokes negative impressions. For example, referring to the use of power can infer that people are being dominated, manipulated or coerced. However, similar to the concept of conflict, power almost always exists in organizations. Recognizing and managing it can be very healthy for organizations and personnel. The following links provides overviews that progress from basic to a little more advanced.
Overview of aspects and features of power (more on types of power)
Everyday Ways to Bring Out Their Best Side and Build Your Positive Power and Influence
Social Power and Influence Tactics: A Theoretical Introduction

Influencing

Controlling a Group
Persuasion Articles (written for the context of making sales)
How to Persuade Others Using Charisma
Assessing Our Ability to Influence Others
Leaders Foster Individual Passion for Change and Improvement

For the Category of Leadership:

Recommended Books

For Leading Yourself, See
Personal Development -- Related Books

For Leading Other Individuals, See
Supervision -- Related Books

For Leading Teams, See
Facilitation and Teams -- Related Books

For Leading Organizations, See
Organizational Development -- Recommended Books

For Management, See
Management -- Recommended Books

Basics and General Information

Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision in Business: by Carter McNamara, published by Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Provides step-by-step, highly practical guidelines to recruit, utilize and evaluate the best employees for your business. Includes guidelines to effectively lead yourself (as Board member or employee), other individuals, groups and organizations. Includes guidelines to avoid burnout -- a very common problem among employees of small businesses. Many materials in this Library's topic about staffing are adapted from this book.

Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision With Nonprofit Staff: by Carter McNamara, published by Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Provides step-by-step, highly practical guidelines to recruit, utilize and evaluate the best staff members for your nonprofit. Includes guidelines to effectively lead yourself (as Board member or staff member), other individuals, groups and organizations. Includes guidelines to avoid burnout -- a very common problem among nonprofit staff. Many materials in this Library's topic about staffing are adapted from this book.

The following books are recommended because of their highly practical nature and often because they include a wide range of information about this Library topic. To get more information about each book, just hover your cursor over the image of the book. A "bubble" of information will be displayed. You can click on the title of the book in that bubble to get more information, too.