Premium Essay

Leading Without Power

In:

Submitted By bboliver
Words 2420
Pages 10
|
|Leading Without Power |
|Two Steps Forward, One Step Back |

|Barbara Boliver |
|8/4/2012 |
|BUS 586 – Summer 2012 Term |

Abstract

Hughes, Ginnet & Curphy define Leadership as “the process of influencing an organized group toward accomplishing its goals”. But what if you were not given the power to properly influence others? I am not talking about power to make others do things against their will, but the power to change behaviors to meet the desired outcome.

A recent example of this is the Katrina disaster. Many groups went in with the desire to lead and help the survivors of the natural disaster; however, since they were not given the power to control all the entities, they failed. It wasn’t until the President put Lieutenant General Russel L. Honore in charge to lead the tasks force, that order was finally restored. This example is seen also again with Haiti, however, they have yet to see a leader with enough power to address their issues and bring their nation back to order.

It doesn’t take natural disasters to see how a failure in leadership can bring down an organization. Look at the Enron scandal or the current economic ruin of our financial institutions where in these cases, the abuse of power can lead to the destruction of a city, organization or economies.

With power being defined as the capacity to cause change, we can see that too little and too much can also be

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

American Revolution Dbq Analysis

...Power is the ability to control the actions of a person. The issue of power struggles occurred in many events leading up to the American Revolution. These power struggles were seen in taxation without representation, between Patriots vs. Loyalists, and with the presence of British troops in Boston. This issue has existed over time and still exists today. Taxation without representation was a problem that was present in the years leading up to the American Revolution. The British upset the colonists because they taxed them when they did not have a voice in the decision-making that was happening in England. Document 1, shows that on March 22, 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act and applied a tax to all colonists. The Stamp Act placed...

Words: 799 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Work

...reform the UN, however many disagree on reforming the UN because of the several of encounters it has dealt with. Both arguments leading to why reform has been difficult to achieve. To begin with, neo conservatives look at the UN as being corrupt, they express their beliefs towards the peacekeeping function, which has largely met with failure for example the incidents in Somalia, Rwanda, and Kosovo. The failure within all three countries prove that the peacekeeping function needs reforming, they tried helping a situation but fled when they couldn’t do more. Thus the calls for reforming the UN. The Security Council is the veto power. The Security Council veto is a power enjoyed by the five permanent members (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States), which enables the states to invalid any practical purpose regardless of the general support. As the five members are able to prevent many issues from reaching the Council's schedule, the veto power is a problem as it constructs makes the council undemocratic and ineffective. By exercising the veto power, any permanent members can prevent anything, and the simple use of a veto may lead to changes in the future. In addition, an actual or threatened veto often prevents the council from acting swiftly to report international issues. In order to make the Security Council a more effective, the power of veto must be eliminated. Given that abolishing the veto would be very unlikely to win the approval by the permanent...

Words: 864 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Power to the President

...Shyam Venkatasubramanian TA: Anthony Sparacino PLAP 1010 Power to the President Throughout the history of the United States, the three branches of government had experienced their respective highs and lows. During creation of the United States Constitution, its authors had a preconceived notion that the legislative branch would end up being the more capable of the other two branches of government. All things considered, the legislative branch was a leading force for states amid the Revolutionary War and amid the Articles of Confederation years. The vast majority of the Bill of Rights starts with the expression "Congress shall make no law." That being said, like the sentiments during the Revolutionary Period and amid the Articles of Confederation, the squabbling and absence of solidarity in Congress counteracted it; from playing the authority part the founders felt it ought to take. When talking about the judicial branch, its role is specified once in the Constitution and all that is expressed is that Congress is looking to create a judicial structure. The authors of the Constitution felt that most laws would be upheld and translated at the state level. It was Chief Justice John Marshall who extended the force of the Supreme Court amidst the Marbury vs. Madison case. Here, Marshall yielded the court the privilege to translate the Constitutionality of laws. In this way, the Supreme Court and the judicial branch started to gain traction as an efficient force in the government...

Words: 1531 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Functions of Management Paper

...management to business students. ‘Fayol originally set forth five management functions, but management book authors have condensed them to four: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. The fifth function was staffing.’ (Norman, 2014). The four functions of management that we use today are Planning, Organizing, Leading and Controlling, minus the emphasis on staffing. Planning is the first managerial function; in this step a manager would create a comprehensive action plan with end goals in mind. the second step is organizing, in which the manager will organize employee resources, such as schedules and shifts. Directing, or Leading is the third step, this includes, managing tasks such as communicating, encouraging and reassuring employees or team members to complete goals. Lastly, we have Controlling, this is the final step and deals with monitoring the performance of the organization to ensure the ultimate goals are being met. In this the final data is gathered that will then indicate to the manager who is or isn't producing well according to plan. (Norman, L. (2014). We now take a look into the management processes of Southwest Power Pool (SPP) through the eyes of Project Manager Christopher Sanchez. Southwest Power Pool is a regional transmission organization federally mandated to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure, and a competitive wholesale...

Words: 711 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Britain Drives the European Bus

...World War Two, Britain as the European victor of the war was looking towards not only rebuilding their own economy and society but also to taking a larger role in leading the rebuilding of a powerful Western Europe. Britain wanted to be treated as an equal by their victorious partners after WWII, the US and USSR, and the British leaders believed this could be accomplished by the creation of a unified Western bloc in Europe. From 1945 until 1957 with the signing of the Treaty of Rome, Britain was successful in leading Western Europe through leadership in post war reconstruction, economic arrangements, security, and atomic weapons. Britain’s commitment to being a world power as well as their widespread influence overseas also helped the British to maintain a leadership role in Western Europe despite French ideas of British Americanization. Overall, despite occasional moments of weakness, Britain was essentially the driver of the “European bus” from 1945 until 1957 when the British decided they no longer wanted to be on board the European bus. World War II devastated Western Europe both physically and economically but provided an opportunity for Britain to take a leading role in the reconstruction process. Reconstruction became the immediate concern for Britain and their Western European neighbors. Britain’s leading role in Western Europe was sparked by their success in post war reconstruction beginning with their role in the Marshall Plan funding by the United States. The...

Words: 2292 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Nigerian Civil War

...War" was fought from 2 July 1967 to 15 January 1970.  The war was the culmination of an uneasy peace and stability that had plagued the Nation from independence in 1960. This situation had its genesis in the geography, history, culture and demography of Nigeria. The war was between the then Eastern Region of Nigeria and the rest of the country.  The Eastern Region declared itself an independent state which was regarded as an act of secession by the Federal Military Government of Nigeria. The events leading up to the Nigerian Civil War and the causes are explained by Neorealism through balance of power politics. However Neorealism does not explain the actual purpose and objectives of the war. Evidences backing this are stated below: 1. The political crisis which linked the war could be explained since it was all about a power drive though restoring unity and peace was one of the aims of the war. 2. The secession triggered by the discovery of oil by the easterners and their fear of losing power over it to the northerners(security dilemma) yet another objective of the war was to fight causing limited destruction and little harm so that the economy would not be in a total destruction. 3. Tribal and Regional Tension between the three main tribes in Nigeria as a result of fear of one tribe dominating another and Britain’s wanting to maintain control over their interest in Nigeria also lead to the war while the war was still aimed at abolishing slavery(freeing the nation). (M.Abubakar...

Words: 1499 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Ir Paper

...War" was fought from 2 July 1967 to 15 January 1970.  The war was the culmination of an uneasy peace and stability that had plagued the Nation from independence in 1960. This situation had its genesis in the geography, history, culture and demography of Nigeria. The war was between the then Eastern Region of Nigeria and the rest of the country.  The Eastern Region declared itself an independent state which was regarded as an act of secession by the Federal Military Government of Nigeria. The events leading up to the Nigerian Civil War and the causes are explained by Neorealism through balance of power politics. However Neorealism does not explain the actual purpose and objectives of the war. Evidences backing this are stated below: 1. The political crisis which linked the war could be explained since it was all about a power drive though restoring unity and peace was one of the aims of the war. 2. The secession triggered by the discovery of oil by the easterners and their fear of losing power over it to the northerners(security dilemma) yet another objective of the war was to fight causing limited destruction and little harm so that the economy would not be in a total destruction. 3. Tribal and Regional Tension between the three main tribes in Nigeria as a result of fear of one tribe dominating another and Britain’s wanting to maintain control over their interest in Nigeria also lead to the war while the war was still aimed at abolishing slavery(freeing the nation). (M.Abubakar...

Words: 1499 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

How Do Monopolies Lead To A Corrupt Government

...Andrew Carnegie, once one of the leading industrialists, believed in a different viewpoint; he believed that the concentrations of wealth are essential (Dudley 17). Throughout time Henry George began to realize that because of monopolies, the rich have left the hard working poor people voiceless, and that the riches are the cause of the corrupted government. “This element of monopoly, of appropriation and spoliation will, when we come to analyze them, be found largely to account for all great fortunes…” (Dudley 16). Many men have made their fortune off of buying a piece of land in the early days that later became very valuable, not by enduring hard work (Dudley 16). If one had a clear understanding of social issues it is easily recognized that monopolies allow...

Words: 555 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

On Violence and Force

...say that power and violence are not the same. Power and violence are opposites; where the one rules absolutely, the other is absent. Violence appears where power is in jeopardy, but left to its own course it ends in power’s disappearance. This implies that it is not correct to think of the opposite of violence as nonviolence; to speak of nonviolent power is actually redundant. Violence can destroy power; it is utterly incapable of creating it (Arendt, 56). All too often a distinction between words such as power, strength, force, authority, and violence are not drawn. These words are rarely defined to their natural state and are commonly mistakenly used as synonyms for one another. Hannah Arendt a German political theorist finds this all too common misconception a major concern, and makes an effort to clearly distinguish between each in her work On Violence. “ Yet it is fair to presume that they refer to different properties, and their meaning should therefore be carefully assessed and examined… The correct use of these words is a question not only of logical grammar, but of historical perspective.” “To use them as synonyms not only indicates a certain deafness to linguistic meanings, which would be serious enough, but it also resulted in a kind of blindness to the realities they correspond to.”(42) The quotation at the top of the page is an excerpt from Arendt’s novel that explains the distinctions between violence and power. Arendt explains how violence and power, which are...

Words: 1194 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Russia

...The Provisional Government was reluctant to act effectively of the problems of Russia in 1917, allowing the growing popularity and strength of the Bolsheviks as they played on these mistakes. With the Bolshevik under the leadership of Lenin, they managed to create the October Revolution. Figures like Leon Trotsky and the weaknesses of Kerensky were both significant factors that led to the Bolshevik Revolution. Lenin’s role in the revolution was vital but he would have not taken power were it not for the failures of the Provisional Government, which was the most crucial factor that caused the revolution and led the Bolsheviks to power. Word count: 104 One of the key element to the success of the Bolshevik revolution was Lenin’s orating and leadership skills, personality and his determination to take power. Lenin’s April theses where he spoke of ‘Peace, Bread and Land’ increased the popularity of the Bolshevik as it reached out to the peasants who made up most of the population. The April theses was effective because it highlighted the feelings and aspiration of the workers and soldiers. The Bolsheviks pacifist stance from the very start of the war and Lenins’ promise of ‘peace’ proved a popular idea and this gained them thousands of followers. With inflation causing prices, of the food that was available, to increase Lenin’s offer of food was an immense attraction. Lenin realised the importance of the peasants for support so he promised them land to get their support. The April...

Words: 2082 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

John Locke Influence On The Declaration Of Independence

...July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed, uniting the country from its previous undivided state, and cutting the rein from the tyrannical oppression from Great Britain. It marked us as our own sovereign country, and transitioned us into what later would become a world power. Therefore, throughout the Declaration of Independence the philosopher John Locke influenced and shaped important aspects with his principles of natural rights which even encompasses limited government and popular sovereignty. Natural rights are exactly what they say. Rights that an individual is immediately born with and will stay with yourself until you die. The three vague terms found in lines one and two of the declaration of rights. "Endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, and the...

Words: 641 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Anti-Slavery Groups

...Leading up to South Carolina seceding from the Union in 1860, the Union was considered a House Divided. This was a time from 1840-1861 where the issue of slavery took over and led to many disagreements on whether the Union should be completely anti-slavery or if it should allow slavery. The main cause that placed a wedge between the conflicting sides, besides slavery, was fear. The fear revolving around pro-slavery groups was the loss of profit and power. While anti-slavery groups feared going against the “majority” at the time and losing their idea of freedom. It was the fears that each group had that caused the house to become divided and eventually separated. Originally, the South’s major crop, tobacco, was why they needed slaves....

Words: 698 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

The Four Functions of Management

...Four functions of management paper MGT/330 | The Four Functions of Management | | Justin Walker | 8/30/2011 | The four functions of management are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling and they are very essential to the success and structure of any organization. Without these key parts there is no foundation to as how the organization will formulate and execute their strategy to accomplish the organizational goals and meet quotas. Each function is important individually but without each function strong as links in a chain then none of them will be efficient alone if all of them are not efficient together as one. Planning means setting performance expectations and/or goals for groups and/or individuals to channel their efforts towards the achievement of organizational objectives. Planning is a process consisting of several steps. The process begins with environmental scanning, which simply means that planners must be aware of the critical contingencies facing their organization in terms of economic conditions, their competitors, and their customers. Planners must then attempt to forecast future conditions. These forecasts form the basis for planning. It also includes gauging or measuring whether expectations and goals are being met. Involving employees in the planning process will help them understand the goals of the organization, what needs to be done, why it needs to be done, and how well it should be done. Planning is proven effective to insinuate getting...

Words: 956 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

World War 1: the Crisis That Shaped the 20th Century

...from the summer of 1914 to November 1918. It was a very complicated time and occurred due to many different reasons and spanned over many different nations. There were also some very big effects on the world during and after the war that not only stunned America, but the whole global economy. This was only the start however of many huge conflicts to follow and still continue with world fighting to this day. One factor leading to World War I was fear. Everyone was afraid of everyone else in regards to power and what each would do with that power. Another interesting factor was cultural malaise leading to a feeling that there was something wrong with society and that war would be the way to purge society of its poisons. Perhaps, per this cultural malaise, war was inevitable. Decisions were made with great speed, without proper time for reflection. Perhaps some of the most fateful errors were caused by nothing more complex than lack of sleep. Although these are some interesting points and a good start to look at, there are still some more complex causes leading to war. By the beginning of the 20th century, nationalism had become the dominant emotional bond providing Europeans with a sense of community, tradition, a set of moral standards, and a motivation for political activity. With that brought three factors that show nationalism as a cause which include the rise of hatred among nations, an emphasis on militarism, and an attempt to find security through international alliances...

Words: 1477 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Claim: in Any Field—Business, Politics, Education, Government—Those in Power Should Step Down After Five Years. Reason: the Surest Path to Success for Any Enterprise Is Revitalization Through New Leadership.

...an organization, thus bringing success to it? Leadership to an organization is rudder to a ship, without too much emphasizing on the importance of leadership, I agree that those in power need to step down for better leadership when necessary. If leaders are making big mistakes, they need to step down anytime necessary. But if current leaders are leading their organizations to make significant progress, they need to stay in power for the sake of their organizations’ continuous progress. New leaders can bring new ideas, innovation and other important resources to their organizations, which are important for the success of organizations. By the 1980s, Haier Group had debt of over CNY ¥1.4 million and suffered from dilapidated infrastructure, poor management, and lack of quality control. The company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Zhangruimin, the saver of Haier Group, introduced the sense of quality to its members by smashing 76 faulty refrigerators in front of everybody. The company started turning around in late 1980s with Zhangruimin’s disciplined management. As an avid reader of western and Japanese business, he brought Haier into international competition after cooperating with Germany Liebherr Group. This has been one of the most told stories where a new innovative leader saves an almost bankrupted company. Under some extreme circumstances, those in power might need to step down before the end of their due time. Chairman Mao held leadership from the establishment...

Words: 590 - Pages: 3