Power- An Essay

“All who gain power are afraid to lose it”.  Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith

(Quick note- I think that I should get at least 10 points for not putting a Star Wars photo with this post. Because I really wanted to!)

Introduction

Life in all its many facets is a balance or struggle for power. In the home parents strive for power over the will and limits of their children. In nature there are conflicts over power of survival. And cosmically there is a battle over a light and darkness. Thank goodness this is not an astrology blog right?!

             The stuggle for power in the workplace can be said to have the most lasting effect on a person. The boss wants to have power over the employee in order to increase productivity. The employee wants to have power over the boss so they can have longer breaks. Knowing what typer of power a person (boss or otherwise) is using and how to communicative to it will be a huge win for overcoming conflict and having a happier workplace..

           Power is an universal element. It can transcend creed, race, and species. A central theme throughout the history of mankind has power and the lengths one will make to achieve and keep it. Within the animal kingdom in pack dominated species there are struggles for power on one level or another.

            One achieves and keeps power using several different methods. According to research

by Raven and French (1958) there are five major basis of power; coercive, reward, legitimate, expert, and referent. The purpose of the following essay is to contrast these five different basis of power. To achieve this contrast, an example will be taken from the motion picture Star Wars highlighting the power base of coercion. Within this essay a discussion will also be made concerning the use of power tactics and nonverbal power.

Five Bases of Power

            Organizations, companies, countries as stated by Karkoulian, Messarra, and Sidani (2009) for the most part hold the same asset higher than any other, power. In one form or anther power is the business. It is the drive for which world turns. A pure definition of power can be found by Robbins and Judge (2011) as “Power refers to the capacity that A has to influence the behavior of B so B acts in accordance with A’s wishes”

            It is this influence that marketing companies seek, that supervisors want for their subordinates and the same influence that politicians endeavor to obtain over communities. The struggle to obtain and maintain power is all around each human being and will be an ever present force in society and human nature.

            French and Raven defined power as “The ability or potential of an agent to alter a target's behavior, intentions, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, or values” French and Raven (1958). Power is power but it is born of different origins. French and Raven had proposed five different bases for power; coercive, reward, legitimate, expert, and referent.

            Coercive power draws influence by the ability to deliver punishment. For example if an employee is unwilling or unable to perform their job duties a coercive manager may have power over them because they can deliver a punishment such as lowering pay or not giving out new leads. According to Robbins and Judge (2011) coercive power works for a short period of time to influence people but due to its negative tones will not motivate people for the long term.

            Transversely reward power does not remove pay or punishment but rather gives pay or benefits. People comply to reward based power because they are more likely to receive financial rewards just as “pay rates, raises, and bonuses or non-financial, including recognition, promotions, interesting work assignments, friendly colleagues, and preferred work shifts or sales territories” (Robbins and Judge, 2011, pg 422).

            Legitimate power derives it’s influence through a more hierarchy fashion. For instance a person who has worked their way up the ladder to the top may exhibit legitimate power. The difference between legitimate power to that of coercive and reward is that it depends on others perception of their power and there in lies its restriction. If a group or community perceives that the power is no longer legitimate their dependency on that leader will crumple and with it the need for that leader. (Karkoulian, Messarra, and Sidani, 2009).

            It has been said that knowledge is power and indeed it is. Expert power is achieved when one has influence over another by using the skills and knowledge regarding a certain subject. For example this type of power occurs when a others are dependent on a technical support agent. Karkoulian, Messarra, and Sidani (2009) state that this type of power can be dangerous because people often blindly follow the word of a proposed expert without checking background first.

            “I purchased these shoes because Michael Jordan said that I would run faster in them,” This statement is an example of the power celebrities can have over consumers, this power is a form of referent power. According to Robbins and Judge (2011) referent power is achieved when a person is liked or admired enough that they can exercises power over others.

Filmic Power

            Art in its many forms including motion pictures are often used as mirror of society. According to Stifano, (2009) movies are not just pure entertainment, at their core they are imitating life, they are what we think we are and what we can become. When reviewing the concept of power and influence over others the movies are an excellent mirror for humanity.

            In 1977 one such mirror was cast in the epic beginning to a six part Star Wars franchise. The films set in a long time ago in a galaxy far far away and focuses on a young man named Luke. Through a set of events his life is up rooted and he is sent on a journey to defend the galaxy from a tyrannical Emperor. Along the way he meets the Emperor’s most loyal follow Darth Vader, who seems to be made more of machine than man (Star Wars Episode IV, 2012)

            The following character review will focus on the leadership and power the character Darth Vader has over others and is ability to influence his will and goals over others. Since it’s debut 35 years ago the Star Wars movies have had a dramatic effect on society and culture. It is one of the most quoted movies in history (Stifano, 2009) and it’s characters have worked their way into everyday terminology. The name and character of Darth Vader is a common work leadership definition (Balzac, 2012).

            When one thinks of working for Darth Vader, hostile work environment is the understand of the Galactic Empire. Star Wars’ Darth Vader leadership style focused on fear. Fear was the driving motivational tool used, typically the fear of death. In the film it was not uncommon for a subordinate to be strangled when they failed at a task or when a project was not completed to Darth Vader’s satisfaction.  

            Darth Vader was a man (or machine) of few words, he was more of a man of action. His lack of speaking was another of his characteristics that assisted in his power. Through their research Aguinis, Simonsen, and Pierce  discovered that certain “facial expressions, visual behavior and body posture” (1998) increased the perceived power a leader had on subordinates. Although Darth Vader wore a mask through the entire film his exuded is nonverbal power through direct facial contact when speaking. He was also very erect in his posture and was taller than his subordinates causing them to physically look up to him when communicating.

            Darth Vader’s unwillingness to tolerate mistakes, and using fear of punishment places him as one who draws his power from coercion (Robbins and Judge, 2011). Darth Vader also used all manner of manipulations, deception, and malice to obtain his goals. He used fear of torture and pain to keep his generals motivated. Although this method was effective in the short run, fit did not serve him in gaining long term loyalty. It also limited his subordinates ability to think freely and therefor innovation and inspiration was replaced with simply fulfilling Vader’s demands.

            To aid in achieve his goals and influencing others to comply, Darth Vader used several power tactics. If the power bases of coercion is the behavior than power tactics are the actions. They are the physical ways in which a person influences another (Robbins and Judge, 2011). In the case of Darth Vader several power tactics are used. The primary tactic that Darth Vader used was pressure, which according to Robbins and Judge consists of using “warnings, repeated demands, and threats” (2011). Darth Vader used this tactic when as he would threaten subordinates with death and pain should tasks not be accomplished. Darth Vader also used the legitimacy tactic, stating that as a Sith Lord and one who knows the mysteries of the Force that his demands and requests should be met without question.

            Despite Darth Vader’s coercion power base he did get many of his objective accomplished Koeller, B. (2011).. There are several characteristics that demonstrated Darth Vader’s leadership skills.   Darth Vader was able to make decisions based on objective data and not making them on whims. For instance when a member of Darth Vader’s team was not performing, he made the decision to replace (choke to death) that member instead of waiting for improvement through natural means. Another characteristic that toted his leadership abilities was that he was not fearful of getting things done him self. When the Battle Star was under attach from Rebel Forces Darth Vader mounted a battle ship to fend off the coming attack.

Conclusion

            Power is certainly a central theme in human history. It comes in many shapes, bases, and used in many different ways. Darth Vader based his power off of fear and punishment. In the film there were other characters who based their power on reward and legitimacy. These leaders exemplified empathy towards others. By the end of the film good trumped over evil, much like the real world those that reward instead of punish. Use empathy instead of coercion will effect the most people for the most good. Making one realize that art does imitate life.

References

Aguinis, H., Simonsen, M. M., & Pierce, C. A. (1998). Effects of Nonverbal Behavior on Perceptions of Power Bases. Journal Of Social Psychology, 138(4), 455-69.

Balzac, S. (2012). Darth Vader in the Boardroom . Retrieved from http://www.cmg.org/     measureit/issues/mit90/m_90_3.pdf

Karkoulian, S., Messarra, L., & Sidani, M. (2009). Correlates of the Bases of Power and the Big   Five Personality Traits. Journal Of Organizational Culture, Communications & Conflict,             13(2), 71-82.

Koeller, B. (2011). Top 10 reasons why Darth Vader was an amazing project manager Top 10 reasons why Darth Vader was an amazing project manager. Retrieved from http://www.geekwire.com/2011/top-10-reasons-darth-vader-amazing-project-manager/

Raven, B. H., & French, J. P. (1958). Legitimate Power, Coercive Power, and Observability in      Social Influence. Sociometry, 21(2), 83-97.

Robbins, S., & Judge, T. (2011). Organizational Behavior (14th ed.). Upper Saddle River,             New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Star Wars Episode IV. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.starwars.com/explore/the-movies/episode-iv/

Stifano, S. (2009). Movies, Meaning, and Social Influence: A Developmental-Interactionist           Theory of Film Communication.Conference Papers -International Communication             Association, 1-42.