What is the difference between power and influence

Although people may regard power as evil or corrupt, power is a fact of organizational life and in itself is neither good nor bad. Another way to view power is as a resource that people use in relationships. When a leader influences subordinates, it is called downward power. We can also think of this as someone having power over someone else. On the other hand, subordinates can also exercise upward power by trying to influence the decisions of their leader.

Indeed, leaders depend on their teams to get things done and in that way are subject to the power of team members. Power comes from several sources, each of which has different effects on the targets of that power. Six types of power are legitimate , referent , expert , reward , coercive , and informational.

Legitimate power usually involves formal authority delegated to the holder of the position. Referent power comes from the ability of individuals to attract others and build their loyalty. It is based on the personality and interpersonal skills of the power holder. A person may be admired because of a specific personal trait, such as charisma or likability, and these positive feelings become the basis for interpersonal influence. Reward power comes from the ability to confer valued material rewards or create other positive incentives.

It refers to the degree to which the individual can provide external motivation to others through benefits or gifts. In an organization, this motivation may include promotions, increases in pay, or extra time off. Coercive power is the threat and application of sanctions and other negative consequences. These can include direct punishment or the withholding of desired resources or rewards. Coercive power relies on fear to induce compliance. Informational power comes from access to facts and knowledge that others find useful or valuable.

It is more about creating such an impact on others so that it affects the way they think or do things, and makes them do what the other person wants them to do.

Influence has some resemblance to power but it relies on subtle tactics and careful handling of the situation where the person being influenced does not have to be forced and becomes compliant just with the use of the right words and strategies. What is the difference between power and influence? There are many who are unable to distinguish between power and influence and regard them as being the same thing, but there is a big difference between the two and it lies in the impact they have on people.

Power is only yielded by powerful people like heads of state, government officials, kings, teachers and parents who hold enough authority and control over others to subjugate them to their wishes and commands. On the other hand, an actor or a music instructor might have enough influence on their students to make them choose acting or music as their profession just because they have the ability to change or direct the viewpoint or inclinations of their students.

The biggest difference between power and influence is that power can push people to do their tasks but influence helps them understand why they need to do it, as there is an emotional factor attached to it. There are many people who have the power and the control and can make others do what they want but do not have the influence to affect their thoughts and ideas.

On the other, there are people who have no position or power but have the ability to influence people very effectively. When asked why they would give their blood, sweat and tears for a person, an influence leader would say, "Because they would have done it for me. We need leaders we trust and who use their power to construct an organization on principles of justice, righteousness and compassion.

The best leaders recognize that education and guidance should override coercion. Above all, great leaders model right over might and influence over power. When leaders see conflict as an opportunity for collaboration and growth rather than as a threat, the byproduct will inevitably be greater harmony in the ranks and increased innovation. This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here.

More From Forbes. Nov 10, , pm EST. Nov 10, , am EST. Edit Story. Nov 2, , am EDT. Influence is not about ruling with an iron fist, but more about guiding individuals during the decision-making process. On the other hand, influence can help improve employee retention in an organization. When people are positively influenced, they feel that they are acting in ways they believe are right.. Managing only with power often creates a one-way conversation between a leader and a subordinate.

Managing through influence, however, opens up space for a two-way conversation between peers. Power and influence can work together to strengthen your leadership in an organization. And often, one method will work better than the other. Let's look at an example. If something unexpected occurs you may not have time to provide enough influence to your team. In this case, having the power to direct them into action is beneficial.

On the other hand, when it comes to daily work, being an inclusive leader who influences them to try their best and give their all can have a lasting impact. Discretionary effort is the extra effort employees put in because they have the motivation to do so.

Power on its own rarely motivates employees to put in this discretionary effort. They are only driven by an outside power. Those actions come from an outside force, and they are performing these actions to respect the source of power at play. On the other hand, your peers are more likely engage with their work when their actions come from them. When they have a say in how they can perform a task, they can start developing ownership of that task or project. This ownership can develop into more engagement.

Here are other ways in which you and your team can benefit from using influence instead of relying solely on power:. Using power alone may work well in the short-term, when you need immediate action. Influence, however, tends to be a more positive and lasting motivator.

Now we'll look at a few sources of power vs. Sources of power. Legitimate power, or positional power, comes from a position of authority you hold in your organization.

Let's take a look at an example. You become a manager and acquire responsibilities, as well as decision-making authority. The power you hold depends on your position and what the company you work for believes is suitable for this position.

This form of power is legitimate power. In some cases, you'll even have the power to make your team do overtime, focus on one task over another, or perform tasks using a specific process. Additionally, you may have the power to promote, suspend, or even fire employees. Again, this is all legitimate power.

The power of coercion involves using punishment to have people on your team agree with you. But don't confuse this with legitimate power when used by those who hold positions of authority. Just because a person is a leader or a manager doesn't mean all the power they leverage is legitimate. However, you do need some form of legitimate power to be able to use coercion. For example, if you threaten to remove an employee from a lucrative project if they do not comply with your demands, that is coercion in action.