Power and Influence in Organizations

Course Objectives

• Diagnose organizational politics that affect the development and implementation of strategies:
  • Anticipate moves that others will make
  • Prevent moves with undesirable consequences
  • Assist and enhance moves with beneficial consequences
  • Understand the implications of cross-cultural differences and similarities, including values and assumptions
  • Use political behavior effectively
  • Know the ethical implications of political behavior
• Analyze the true distribution of power in the organization:
  • Identify power structures
  • Develop power resources
  • Accomplish goals when responsibility exceeds formal authority
  • Use power ethically
  • Empower others within your organization
  • Develop techniques to influence teams and build collaborative environments
  • Develop effective working relationships both inside and outside your organization
  • Enhance personal and organizational effectiveness by exercising power ethically
• Understand political behavior and its outcomes:
  • Recognize political behavior
  • Use political behavior effectively
  • Understand the ethical implications of political behavior
  • Learn and practice techniques and strategies of ethical influence and persuasion

What You Learn

• Various types of power and when to use them
• Principles of influence and their applications
• Political behavior
• Developing trust and commitment
• New concepts in leadership, power and influence
• Promoting innovation
• Markkula Center for Applied Ethics framework
• Practicing leadership

How You Learn

• Lectures
• Case studies
• Guest speakers
• Problem sets
• Class discussions
• Research
• Group activities
• Student projects

Is This Course Right for Me?
This class is intended for current and aspiring leaders and working professionals at all levels of management.