What It Means To Gain Power

Power is only truly given by the people. It’s the people that will elect the president of the United States, thus he has power. It’s the people who elect group leaders, team leaders, and other political positions. Without the people power wouldn’t play such a prominent role in the world, but the people have been mistreated by the powerful because for many years the idea of what it means to remain powerful is that they have to be all about themselves and be demanding. The definition of the acquisition of power is a very controversial definition, because many people have conflicting ideas on what it means.

Gaining power is not what people might think. Society has thought for years that in order to gain power one must be ruthless, spiteful, and

That way of thinking, often called the negative face, is more of a “ I win, you lose” (McClelland ) mentality. That kind of thinking is more along with using people as means to an end, treating people very poorly, and never really caring for them just using them for their own self benefit. In the end they will find that this does not work because the people that they are using to get what they want will realize what is happening and will resist the leadership of that person creating a negative environment. Instead of working in an area where the leader is hated and resisted many leaders or powerful authority have translated into the more positive way of leading. This way is all about “ exerting influence on behalf of others rather than over others” (McClelland). The definition of the acquisition of power is becoming less of a controversial topic and more one-sided with many leaders starting to focus more on being well liked than self

Bumham said “ successful managers have a greater need to influence others for the benefit of the organization than for self aggrandizement. Managers who use their power positively will be more effective than those who use it in a negative way and just to dominate the others.” Now the workforce is starting to become a better working environment because managers and the hire ups are witnessing first hand that when using their power positively and in a way that is beneficial to not just themselves is creating a more effective reaction out of those listening and following the leader rather than if that leader were to be using the power in a negative way. The article goes on and talks about how power will be truly apparent when the resources are scarce. Meaning that in the face of diversity when the times get tough in the group or team and when they are needing someone to step up and carry them. That is when the true characters come out in everyone and when the true leader with the acquisition of power will come forward. Just like in sports when the team is losing late in the game and they have injuries throughout the game losing their star player. The team is needing someone to step up and take the place and become the leader the one with the power that the team looks up to and trusts knowing that person will do the best for the