The Power of The Powerless

On Monday 17 & 18 August 2009 I have conducted a 2-day public programme on 'Pengurusan Kakitangan Yang Efektif' organised by Bridge Knowle. Participants comprised of senior managers, managers and executives from public and private organisations. Several topics were covered including discussions on the possibility of subordinates ganging up to demonstrate their powers.

This article compelled me to pen my observations on what we can learn from the mysterious letter i.e from the people management perspective and as leader, the manner in which we manifest our behaviour.

Disillusioned, aggrieved, demoralised, demotivated, indifferent and etc. etc... subordinates could be the result of perceived mishandling by managers.

The programme I have conducted revealed that though managers are aware of the merits of the influence power, more often than not managers have the tendency to use their legitimate power especially the coercive power. Perturbed by their subordinates' performance, they threw 'verbal rocks' and misused words at their team members. They saw it as straight-to-the point, bold and easy-to-understand. Little did they realised that the use of such legitimate power has adverse causal effects. They don't drive a winning team spirit. These causal effects, mostly counter-productive, may undermine not only their positions but also their organisations.

I called this manifestation of counter-productive behaviours by subordinates resulting from perceived mistreatment and mishandling of subordinates by managers as the Power of the Powerless.