Welcome to Module 2 of our course on Managing Relationships. In this module, we will talk extensively about using appropriately, power and influence. We'll take time to, not only define our terms, but also to recognize when power and influence are being used inappropriately or in an abusive way. Before we do that, however, let's take a look at my leadership observation for this module. Sometimes it helps to be a good actor in order to be an effective leader. Sometimes you just have to act the part. We'll return to that observation at the end of the module. Our objectives for this module are first to define the terms of power and influence. What are they, where do they come from? We want to recognize when power and influence are being abused and develop some strategies for you to defend yourself against the abuse of power. We'll recognize and understand strategies for how you're going to gain the power you need to get work done. In the engineering world, work doesn't get done without some exercise appropriately of power and influence. We'll describe the sources of organizational power. Where do they come from, and how do you build that in an effective and appropriate way. We'll learn to recognize the influence strategies that managers can use, to get work done, to influence the work of others, so that we accomplish the goals of the organization effectively. However, those influence strategies can be abused. And there may come occasions, when you have to use appropriate countervailing strategies, to overcome inappropriate use of the influence strategies. I recognize that the content of this module has a distinctly western cultural flavor. In other cultures, you may have to exercise power and influence in somewhat different ways. However, here, power and influence are key to developing an internal locus of control, and a positive leadership self efficacy.
