I’ve been listening to Roger Dawson’s vintage audio course on negotiating. And I’ve been evaluating AI effectiveness. Putting those two together, I used AI to create examples on how power can be used by business people and how business people can protect themselves when others abuse their power.
AI did a reasonably accurate job of defining the 8 elements of power, i.e., defining them the way Roger Dawson defined them. AI struggled with referent power. An iterative Q&A process was required and formatting changes were needed to make the blog more presentable. AI did not fully pass Microsoft’s Grammar review.
Here’s what AI provided:
Legitimate Power
Legitimate power is derived from an individual’s position or role within an organization or society.
In a business context, an example of legitimate power is a CEO who has the power to make decisions about the company’s direction and strategy. To protect themselves from abuse, employees can ensure that the CEO is following proper procedures and is transparent about their decision-making process.
Reward Power
Reward power comes from an individual’s ability to provide rewards or incentives to others.
In a business context, an example of reward power is a manager who has the power to give bonuses or promotions to employees. To protect themselves from abuse, employees can ensure that they are clear on the expectations and criteria for receiving rewards and should speak up if they feel that they are being unfairly overlooked.
Coercive Power
Coercive power is based on an individual’s ability to punish or penalize others for noncompliance or wrongdoing.
In a business context, an example of coercive power is a supervisor who has the power to assign undesirable tasks or reprimand employees for noncompliance. To protect themselves from abuse, employees can ensure that they understand the expectations and requirements for their job and should speak up if they feel that they are being treated unfairly.
Referent Power
Referent power is based on an individual’s values, consistency of behavior, and trustworthiness.
In a business context, an example of referent power is respected and influential leaders who have the power to inspire and motivate their teams. To protect themselves from abuse, team members should be aware of the leader’s track record and should ensure that their goals and values align with those of the company.
Charisma Power
Charisma power is based on an individual’s ability to inspire and motivate others through their words, actions, or ideas.
In a business context, an example of charisma power is a salesperson who has the power to influence customers to make a purchase. To protect themselves from abuse, customers should be aware of the salesperson’s background and should ensure that the product or service meets their needs and expectations.
Experience Power
Experience power refers to the power that an individual has based on their years of experience in a particular field or industry.
In a business context, an example of experience power is a supervisor using their expertise to guide decisions and mentor less experienced colleagues. To protect themselves from abuse, colleagues should be confident and speak up to offer new perspectives and share ideas.
Situation Power
Situation power is derived from the context or situation in which an individual finds themselves.
In a business context, an example of situation power is a meeting facilitator who has the power to set the agenda and guide the discussion. To protect themselves from abuse, participants should ensure that the facilitator is impartial and is open to different perspectives and opinions.
Information Power
Information power is based on an individual’s access to or control over information that is valuable or useful to others.
In a business context, an example of information power is a business thought leader holds informational power to shape industry trends and public opinion. To avoid abuse, stakeholders must assess their background and potential biases, and cross-check multiple sources of information for a well-rounded understanding.