Organizational Power Politics

Gilbert W. Fairholm is emeritus professor of leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Not all uses of office politics are ethically out of bounds; in fact, the smart use of interpersonal power in group situations is a key to success for the individual and the organization. In this guide to understanding and using personal power in organizational settings, Fairholm (professor emeritus, leadership, Virginia Commonwealth University) outlines 22 power tactics that leaders can use in work, social, recreational, religious, military, and other organizations. This second edition offers more details on applying the 22 tactics, an updated analysis of the theory behind the tactics, and new chapters on the use of power in multinational work groups and the use of power by middle managers. The tactics comes with activities, self-evaluations, and discussion questions. Visual learners are aided by 20 summary tables, and two diagrams of the power-use process.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementIntroduction: The History and Theory of PowerPart I: Defining Power in Work Group OperationsChapter 1: Elements of a DefinitionChapter 2: Defining the Forms of PowerChapter 3: Bases of PowerChapter 4: Using Power Politics in Organizational LifePart I Issues and ActivitiesPart II: Power Use: Tactical and Strategic ModelsChapter 5: A Power Use ModelChapter 6: Power Use Tactics: Application of Power on the JobChapter 7: Using Power in the OrganizationPart II Issues and ActivitiesPart III: Power Interventions That WorkChapter 8: Tactics Used with SuperiorsChapter 9: Power Tactics Used with PeersChapter 10: Tactics Used with SubordinatesChapter 11: Comparing TacticsChapter 12: How Inner Leaders Get Willing ComplianceChapter 13: Using Power in Multinational GroupsPart III Issues and ActivitiesAppendixBibliographyIndex