Techniques for Building Power and Authority in Nursing Management

1. Unit 9 POWER AND AUTHORITY

2. Power:is one’s capacity to influence others, • Authority: is the right to direct others. • Source of power ( Types of power ). 1-Reward: power comes from ability to reward others. 2- Coercive power: comes from ability to punish others. 3- Legitimate power: comes from position in hierarchy 4- Referent power: ( role model) followers desire to be like the leader 5- Expert power: power through knowledge, skills, and information .

3. Nurse managers have reward and coercive power over their subordinates. • Expert and referent power comes after manager and subordinates have worked together for some time. • These types of power makes nurse managers to be selected on the basis of their technical expertise and personal leadership qualities, including their ability to serve as a role model

4. Informal sources of power: Personal power & not position power: • Education, experience, drive, and decisiveness are viewed positively and help establish credibility. • Location: individuals communicate more with people who are located near them in the organization, which increases their opportunities to influence • In general, people are most comfortable with others who share similar values, beliefs, and customs.

5. Authority • Is legitimate power: determined by structure, involves roles and relations • The right to command • Individuals are socialized very early to respond to authority as children are conditioned to accept the directives. • Authority inherent in the position, not in the person • Authority is traditionally structured as line or staff • Staff authority has no command privileges. -subordinates advise or assist managers in the performance of their duties

6. Techniques for Building power: 1. Expand personal resources by: • Self awarenessالوعي الذاتي. • Vitalityحيوية • Resilienceمرونة • Mental and emotional strengthعقلانية وقوة عاطفية • The ability to take risks . القدرة على تحمل المخاطر. * building resources in any of these areas will increase personal power

7. Techniques for Building power.. Cont.. 2. Present a powerful picture to others : (look, act, and talk ) Ex.The nurse who stands tall and is poised (ready), assertive, articulate, and well-groomed presents a picture of personal control and power . 3- Pay the entry fee :يعمل بلا كلل • Not clock watchers & do more, work harder, and contribute to the organization. • Attend meetings work in any shifts and weekend and holiday without complaining. • A power base achieved through hard work.

8. Techniques for Building power.. Cont.. 4- Determine the powerful in the organization : Understanding and working within both the formal and informal power structure is necessary. • The powerful individuals in the informal structure are often more difficult to identify than those in the formal. 5- Learn the language and symbols of the organization: • New members must understand and socialize with organizational culture and value system to build power.

9. Techniques for Building power.. Cont.. 6- Learn how to use the organization's priorities: 7- Increase professional skills and knowledge. • performance must be extraordinary to enhancepower. • Excellence that reflects knowledge and skill enhances a nurse’s credibility and determines how they are viewed by others

10. Techniques for Building power.. Cont.. 8- Maintain a broad vision.: Power builders always look upward and outward. People without visionrarely become very powerful. 9- Use experts and seek counsel: • By looking to others for advice and counsel 10- Be flexible.

11. Techniques for Building power.. Cont.. 11- Develop visibility and a voice in the organization : Newcomers must become active in committees or groups and develop observational, listening and verbal skills. 12- Learn to toot your own horn: - Self-respect: one who is talented and unique. 13- Maintain a sense of humor: Appropriate humor is very effective.

12. Techniques for Building power.. Cont.. 14- Empower other : • Leaders need to empower others and followers must empower their leaders. • Women are frequently bitter and envious of other woman, they withhold support and openly attack. • Nurses do not gain their share of power because they allow others to divide them and weaken their base.

13. Techniques for Building power.. Cont.. • Some leaders don't teach others and not want to see others succeed. These individuals have been termed the queen bee syndrome. • The queen bee wants to be the main attraction and desires that subordinates remain powerless. • Power bring more power, while powerlessness generate more powerlessness. (the end)