Power Impacts Success and Performance

Power favors an executive's success... Power helps leaders maintain and pursue goals even when they face distractions. How so? Having authority can positively affect planning and performance. On the other hand, lack of power impairs people's ability to keep track of ever-changing information, to sort out what's irrelevant and to plan ahead to meet goals.

A low-power role often impairs a person's cognitive functioning... and ability to get ahead. Power is linked to ability to function well on the job and use problem solving skills effectively.

Interestingly, during an experiment to explore how power affects performance, folks in the low-power group were just as motivated and put forth just as much effort as executives and leaders. Differences appeared in their ability to focus on their current goal. They fell short in complex problem solving and generally demonstrated poor planning.

Implications of this study can make a difference in high-risk industries such as health-care. Here's how... employee errors can have fatal consequences.

What possibilities do you see to overcome the sense of powerlessness and dispossession that often accompanies low-power roles in many of today's organizations? Here're five to start...

1. Involve low-position employees in problem solving... When people's voices and ideas are heard and recognized, they find more satisfaction - leading to greater well-being

2. Empower low-power employees to take charge of a work activity... Empowerment helps the person to concentrate and function at a higher cognitive level.

3. Challenge low-position employees to volunteer in non-profits... Leadership roles are often open in volunteer organizations. Taking on a role can help change peoples' confidence level and sense of position.

4. Reward on-the-job performance... Recognition can help foster concentration needed to avoid mistakes.

5. Share lunch with low-position employees... Getting to know employees and discussing their interests builds a relationship that impacts performance.

What strategies would you add?