How to Gain & Keep Power
How to Gain and Keep Power
The first step in acquiring power and influence is for you to become valuable, and then indispensable, to your organization. In the final analysis, the results are the only thing that matter. Keep yourself focused by always asking, what results are expected of me?
This is the starting point. The focus on results has always been the high road to personal power and greater influence. When you develop a reputation for doing your job well, you cannot help but be paid more and get promoted faster.
The second step in securing your power is for you to make yourself more valuable and helpful to more and more people. Continually look for ways to go the extra mile, to do things that are beyond what others might expect.
The third way for you to expand your power is for you to continually seek opportunities to help and to add value both to your organization and to the people in it. Take additional courses, upgrade your knowledge and skills, and look for new ways to increase sales or cut costs.
Come to work a little earlier and stay a little later. Volunteer for additional responsibilities. Always do more than you are paid for and you will always end up being paid more than you are receiving today.
For you to acquire and keep power and influence, you will require supporters both inside and outside of your organization. You should give this subject a lot of thought. Who are, or could be, your most important supporters, and what can you do to strengthen your relationships with them?
Almost everyone in an organization has power of some kind. Everyone has the power to help or hurt in some way. Everyone has the power to do or to refrain from doing something that needs to be done. Each person is in a position to advance a cause or to hinder it, to help move things ahead or to block them. What are your powers of the people around you?
An important principle of power is that 'power always arises to fill a vacuum. You can create power for yourself by stepping into a new and undefined situation where a power vacuum exists and assuming responsibility for responsibility for results. You can acquire power in the most positive sense of the word by taking charge of a new product and committing yourself wholeheartedly to the success of the venture.
The more capable and competent you prove yourself to be at getting specific and important results for your organization, the more power, influence, and authority will flow to you, and more valuable you will become.
My name is Iyer Subramanian, working with Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mumbai. Can be reached by E Mail: iyerpdkgnm@yahoo.com
About the Author:
My name is Iyer Subramanian. My qualifications are as under. Bachelor of Arts, Diploma in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations, Diploma in Labor Laws & Labor Welfare, Diploma in HRM, Diploma in Training & Development.
I have around 25 years of experience in HR and write for Express Hospitality, Hospitalitybiz, Business Manager regularly on HR.