Points of Power

Here's another commonly used tool from my toolbox.

Points of Power comes from Ken Blanchard, Susan Fowler, and Laurence Hawkins' "Self Leadership and The One Minute Manager".

It's a useful concept and an exercise that I often use in my coaching sessions.

This model defines five points of power:

• Position Power - the traditional power of title and position
• Task Power - having the keys to the stock room, coordinating the schedules, shipping authority, etc.
• Personal Power - charisma, charm, empathy, etc.
• Relationship Power - customers, friends, family, connections, etc.
• Knowledge Power - any knowledge you know, languages, skills, etc.

Take a few minutes and make your list.

Write down as many examples as you can of the powers you possess under each point.

Go....

When you're done, ask yourself three questions:

1. Are you surprised by how many powers you have? Many people are.
2. Are you depressed by how few you have? Join the club.
3. Finally, how can you build up your areas of weakness? Make a plan.

I have a colleague who was trying (unsuccessfully) to get work down with Asian partners.

When we did this exercise, we found that he had a lot of power, but almost no relationship power. It turns out that this is the most important power in Asia.

So, he got on a plan and spent some time building more relationship power.

What's your plan?