Skills to Influence not Manipulate

There is an unavoidable triad that links Leadership, Title and Power together. They all co-exist within each other. For example, a Title such as 'Supervisor' brings with it elements of Leadership. Power, which is the self belief to be able to do things, either in a positive way of influencing others or in a negative way of manipulation, also bears traits of Leadership. Titles are also symbols of power and the greater or higher the Title/Position, the greater the Power associated with it. It is the same with Leadership, the greater or stronger the Leader in you, the greater the ability to use the Powers of Leadership. Now this segment, titled "Skills to Influence not Manipulate", is a look in and a focus on the Positive side of Leadership.


Influence VS. Manipulation

Influence is the positive usage of Power. It is used by effective leaders who desire to change and help those around them. Influence is not forced upon nor is it something effective leaders use to get a foothold on something or someone. It should be a genuine focus on the greater good to improve the person, themselves, the environment and atmosphere and so on.

On contrast to this is the negative usage of power - manipulation. One thing that Power does to us is cloud our judgement, character and moral. This is the trap of Power Addiction. This trap begins when we start to feel comfortable with the Power available to us. We use it freely and for our own purposes more then for others. We forget that it is the people around us that give us this power and we begin to see our power as a must and that it is only right that we have power. Usually, this trap of Power Addiction coincides with the position and Title bestowed on us.

So how can we refrain from falling into the trap of Power Addiction? One simple way to know if we or those in Power are falling into the trap of Power Addiction is to notice the actions and behaviours of the Leader. Someone who shows signs of a strong focus on self gain is most likely to be heading down a Power struggle within himself. How leaders use their powers such as to create change and improve others or to gain status and to become famous is the difference between an effective leader and a Power Addicted leader.


In the book, "You Don't Need A Title To Be A Leader" by Mark Sanborn, he defines Leadership as Influence. Just like how we have talked about the responsibilities that come with leadership; an Influential Leader is someone who makes things better.

Here is an anonymous quote saying:

"Leadership is the art of getting extraordinary performance from ordinary people"

This quote really sums up the channel in which we should be using the Powers of Leadership. To create change and make things better. Making the ordinary extraordinary.

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In a summary of this chapter, Leadership Skills acquired enhances our Powers and so does Titles bestowed upon us. But how we exercise our power with people shows us if we are taking a positive step or negative step in our leadership. It is said that Leaders make heroes of everyone around them. If we can be aware of the pitfalls of Power and the trap of Power Addiction and if we can take action to prevent it from happening and also be the catalyst of positive change and making things better, we will be sure that we are on the right path towards effective leadership.









Jonathan Szeto has been working with youth and teens for many years and wants to encourages everyone to find that Leader in them. For more information on Leadership for Teens, Becoming an Effective Leader and Using Leadership to Create Change please visit http://the-effective-leader.blogspot.com/