Leadership, Power & Politics

“Power… the capacity to translate intention into reality and sustain it. Leadership is the wise use of this power… vision is the commodity of leaders, and power is their currency.” (Bennis and Nanus, 1991) Leadership and Power

‘Before I served as a consultant to President Kennedy, I had believed that the process of decision-making was largely intellectual and all one had to do was walk into the President’s office and convince him of the correctness of one’s view. This perspective I soon realized is as dangerously immature as it is widely held’. Henry A. Kissinger

‘Power Types’ (French and Raven, 1991)

Social Power "the capacity to exert influence over others."

(Go along with their decision because they’re the “BOSS”

Information / Connectional Power Gained through non-formal communication channels (“grapevine”) & networks

Politics may be defined as: “the assumptions or principles relating to a theory or activity in a society or organisation especially concerned with power and status.” New Oxford Dictionary of English (2001)

Politics shape the health service and the policies that impact on the health and well being of people. (Antrobus, 2004)

Political awareness is an understanding of: the bigger national, political picture about health care; the key agendas for one’s own organisation; power and authority; how to influence so as to lead and shape policy and services at a local level.

Action with integrity Politically Unaware Psychological Game Playing Politically Aware Clever InnocentInept Wise