Power base and Leadership

British historian of late 19th century, (Acton, 1887) said that "power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely," suggesting that a person's sense of morality lessens as his or her power increases. Do you agree? Considering this idea, is it ethical for leaders to try to increase their power? Is all power the same or are there different power bases and different corresponding influence techniques? How does the use of power impact the leader-follower relationship? Choose any organization and describe the power base(s) in that organization. What types of techniques do leaders use to influence team behavior in that organization? How does the leaders' approach affect team relationships? As a leader, how would you use power in your relationships with team members and why? Strategic Planning Strategic planning is a "methodical, step by step approach to determine who you are (mission), what you are not willing to compromise (values), where you are going (vision), and how you are going to get there (planning)" (Strong, 2005). Developing an effective strategic plan is critical to an organization's success. It is important to note that strategic planning differs from classic business planning, in that it involves thinking outside the box in order to develop the mission and vision statements. In essence, a strategy can be defined as the game plan that the company will use to fulfill its mission and vision (Pearce & Robinson, 2004). It is a high-level plan that sets the framework for executive-level decision making. According to Pearce and Robinson (2004), a strategic plan is made up by following nine required tasks: 1. Develop the company's mission, values, goals, and philosophy. 2. Analyze the company's internal capabilities and conditions. 3. Assess the competition and the external environment. 4. Align resources with the company's external environment. 5. Identify and evaluate available options. 6. Develop long-term objectives and overall strategies. 7. Based upon the long-term objectives and strategies, create annual and short-term objectives. 8. Implement the selected strategies. 9. Evaluate company's success. Strategic planning is an iterative process that will adjust over time, which is why it is so important for leaders to be flexible when developing the plan. It can be equal parts deliberate and emergent.