| The amount of social power you possess and wield will, to a large degree, determine the amount of success you have in your career. It is an immensely important element that determines the amount of influence you can have over (and with) others. If you have a desire to be more and do more than you currently are, then understanding power and gaining more of it will play an important role in accomplishing your aspirations. In this article, we will explore the basis of social power and how to leverage mentorship to become more powerful.
For the purpose of this article, power is defined as the ability to have your will acted on by others. In other words, how assured are you that if you ask someone to do something that it will actually get done? Power can be a difficult topic to address when it comes to personal development. It sounds odd to encourage others to take on more power and aspire to be more powerful, because power in many circumstances is perceived to be bad or corruptive. In reality, power is a common human expression that permeates every social exchange. It is the currency of leadership and creates the force that causes actions to be taken on behalf of others. The fact is that power can be wielded to create positive or negative outcomes and environments, and if you want to do more good rather than harm, it is advisable to learn to embrace power and use it responsibly. Mentorship provides an ideal setting for discovering the extent of your power and learning how to use it conscientiously.
Everyone has a degree of power that varies depending on the circumstances they find themselves in. Social power is something that is both granted by those in authority and earned from those who make up your social network. It is very possible to have a large amount of power in one social setting and very little in another. In its simplest form, social power can be understood as coming from a combination of positional and personal bases of power.
 Positional power is based on the amount of power that the granting authority delegates to you by way of title or organizational position. This is measured by how high in the hierarchy you are positioned and the amount of resources (people, budget) you are responsible for. Positional power is expressed by:
- Making decisions and setting policy/agendas.
- Hiring and firing personnel.
- Giving and withholding rewards (bonuses) for performance.
- Promoting or demoting subordinates.
- Giving or withholding choice assignments.
 Personal power is based on the amount of trust that others have in your character, commitment and competence. This is measured by the number and type of followers you have influence with. Personal power is expressed by:
- Sharing your expertise.
- Honoring personal commitments.
- Maintaining positive rapport and commiserating.
- Contributing to the success of others.
- Expressing your values and opinions.
To a great extent, the amount and type of power that you have comes from and is dependent on those around you. Positional power is delegated from those above you who have more power than you have. What is delegated can be withdrawn or constrained as easily as it is extended. Personal power comes from your relational networks and is made up of those who choose to follow your lead. Likewise, it can be extended or withdrawn on any given day. Given the precarious nature of social power, it is something that must be cultivated and maintained constantly.
To gain more positional power you can work to inspire more trust and confidence from those who have more organizational authority than you. Similarly, to gain more personal power you can work to engender more trust and confidence from those who are on a peer or subordinate level. Regardless of the type of power you wish to increase, consider these suggestions for positively expanding your power.
- Exercise your authority in tactful ways (avoiding self-centered impulses).
- Focus on developing a positive reputation in your prime areas of expertise.
- Search out opportunities where you can assume authority.
- Take greater risks by making yourself available to take on more responsibility.
- Make yourself known by those who have power by sharing your accomplishments (when appropriate).
- Align your agenda with the agenda of key influencers (superiors, peers and subordinates).
Becoming more consciously aware of your power and determined to gain more influential power, rather than allowing it to erode, will help you find greater satisfaction and success in your career. Your mentoring partner can become a great supporter and encourager of your power. They can aid you in understanding where your current power lies, advise you on how to gain more power, and help you identify and get acquainted with other key influencers. Having this trusted advisor behind you as you explore your power will help you achieve compelling results.
The following exercise can help you discuss how to increase your social power with your mentoring partner.
1. Assess the degree of your power, both positional and personal, by answering the following questions.
Positional Power
- How high in the decision/policy making hierarchy are you?
- How many people are you responsible for?
- How large is the budget that you control?
Personal Power
- How much clout does your relational network have?
- How unique are your expert qualifications?
- How solid is your reputation amongst those in power?
2. Discuss the conclusions of your assessment with your mentoring partner and ask them for their perspective of your basis of power.
3. Discuss some strategies for increasing your basis of power (both positional and personal).
4. Set up a future date to review your progress.
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