As you all know, Program Management is sometimes about simply getting s*** done! In many cases however we don't have formal authority, so in absence of this, how do we still make things happen?
In a 1959 study, John French and Bertram Raven noted that power is divided into 5 forms (and they later added a sixth). By understanding the types of power and consciously picking which to utilise we can maximise our chances of influencing actions/outcomes. Below I'll summarise the different types of power and their pros/cons.
Legitimate & reward power
Legitimate power is sometimes known as 'positional power' and is easy to recognise as it relates to power generally afforded to individuals through hierarchy. For example, a manager has authority over what work to allocate to people in their team. Reward power goes hand in hand because it's primarily at the availability of people with legitimate power e.g. a manager might be able to offer a bonus to someone.
The pros of these types of power are that they work. At least, they do primarily in the short term. People are required to comply with the command, and so the required action takes place.
But, as mentioned in the introduction, program managers often don't have this type of power available to them. What's more, what these types of power provide in terms of compliance, they usually lack in terms of developing engagement. When you think about the longer term (and programs usually are longer term efforts), I think there's a strong argument to say that you want people to feel a sense of responsibility, to 'buy-in', and to think freely and contribute ideas - and these characteristics all come from developing engagement.
This is not to say that these types of power should never be used - just to recognise that there's a time and a place for them.
Coercive power
When people don't comply, sometimes people can resort to coercion. Coercion can be subtle through use of phrases like 'be a team player', but they can also be overt in the form of threats. Regardless of the nature of the coercion, the point is that they state or imply consequences.
I would argue that it's probably never suitable to use this type of power - certainly not in the workplace, and I think the consequences are clear.
Referant
Referent power is very different to the above types. It's about people's respect and trust in you, making it an extremely potent form of power.
This to me is one of the most important forms of power to build as a program manager. You develop it over time through consistently demonstrating trustworthy action, and behaving in ways that show people you've got their back. Ultimately, you're a person of integrity who people can depend upon.
The downside is not so much about the form of power, but more that to develop it requires you to be genuinely trustworthy and of integrity - there's no faking here. That requires listening to feedback, introspection, and self development as much as anything else, which is not always easy work.
Expert
Expert power is as you might expect - it's power through competency. When as a program manager you demonstrate that you have the skill to comprehend situations, and use solid judgement to guide action, then people are likely to listen and be influenced by you.
There's no real downside to this form of power, though we obviously need to be mindful that people do not always act rationally, and so sometimes making a rational argument through expertise is not always enough to influence action.
Informational
The last form of power - the one subsequently added after the initial publication by French and Raven - is informational power. This form of power is about possessing knowledge that others need or want. For example, if there's a decision with 2 options, and if you can demonstrate that one option has a far better return on investment, then that's information which influences people towards that option. There are of course ways to misuse informational power, such as withholding key information from people as leverage.
So what do you think? Does this resonate with you? Are you mindful about the types of power you're using in your programs? Let me know in the comments below :)
