Understanding your influence
What comes to mind when you think of power?
If words like greed, malice, or politics come up, you’re not alone. Power gets a bad rap, but it’s present in every relationship we have, and there’s so much more to it than negative headlines.
Power isn’t bad. But how you use it matters.
According to research published by Richard Olley at Griffith University, there are five types of power, and they’re all equally important.
The ability to support, soothe, or motivate others. Think encouragement in tough moments, or calm in the chaos. It’s power that’s rooted in empathy and connection.
This is power built on trust, respect, and shared values. If people look to you for guidance or feel safe being themselves around you, you’re holding relational power.
Organising the family calendar, running meetings, making the wheels turn behind the scenes — these are all great examples of practical power. This type of power is often invisible, but it’s essential to keeping teams and families ticking along smoothly.
This refers to your knowledge, skills, or lived experience. This type of power earns you trust as an expert in a specific area of work or life.
Reward power is the ability to offer something positive, like praise or recognition. It doesn’t have to be formal. A simple “you did great!” can shift someone’s whole day. That’s power.
Now that you know you’ve got more power than you think, why not use it for good? You don’t need a title to lead. The way you show up in everyday moments can have an amazing impact on the people around you.
This article was based on insights from Richard Olley’s review of power and influence leadership theories, 2021.