Power and Influence [Hardcover]

John P. Kotter (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

B. Lyle Shafer Vice President—Personnel Resources NCR Corporation John Kotter has isolated, defined, and articulated one of the most elusive and misunderstood aspects of management. POWER AND INFLUENCE is must reading for all staff managers. -- Review

Product Description

In today's complex work world, things no longer get done simply because someone issues an order and someone else follows it.

Most of us work in socially intricate organizations where we need the help not only of subordinates but of colleagues, superiors, and outsiders to accomplish our goals. This often leaves us in a "power gap" because we must depend on people over whom we have little or no explicit control.

This is a book about how to bridge that gap: how to exercise the power and influence you need to get things done through others when your responsibilities exceed your formal authority.

Full of original ideas and expert insights about how organizations—and the people in them—function, Power and Influence goes further, demonstrating that lower-level personnel also need strong leadership skills and interpersonal know-how to perform well.

Kotter shows how you can develop sufficient resources of "unofficial" power and influence to achieve goals, steer clear of conflicts, foster creative team behavior, and gain the cooperation and support you need from subordinates, coworkers, superiors—even people outside your department or organization.

He also shows how you can avoid the twin traps of naivete and cynicism when dealing with power relationships, and how to use your power without abusing it.

Power and Influence is essential for top managers who need to overcome the infighting, foot-dragging, and politicking that can destroy both morale and profits; for middle managers who don't want their careers sidetracked by unproductive power struggles; for professionals hindered by bureaucratic obstacles and deadline delays; and for staff workers who have to "manage the boss."

This is not a book for those who want to "grab" power for their own ends. But if you'd like to create smooth, responsive working relationships and increase your personal effectiveness on the job, Kotter can show you how—and make the dynamics of power work for you instead of against you.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (June 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029183308
• ISBN-13: 978-0029183304
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #886,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The leadership challenge in complex organizations, March 10, 2005

By	Gerard Kroese (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Power and Influence (Hardcover)

John Kotter is a well-known Professor of Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School. He has written numerous management books and articles. This book was originally published in 1985 and is split up in four parts.

The first part - The Changing Nature of Managerial and Professional Work - discusses the fact that most managerial, technical, and professional jobs have become significantly more complex due to a number of very fundamental economic and social trends over several decades. In order to emphasize the impact o the complex social milieu, Kotter uses a perspective which empoys two basis concepts: (1) Diversity, which "refers to the differences among people with respect to goals, values, stakes, assumptions, and perceptions." (2) Interdependence which "refers to a state in which two or more parties have power over each other because they are, to some degree, dependent on each other." Excellent companies are successful in managing these two concepts, which, according to Kotter, needs strong leadership throughout organizations. He continues to discuss the requirements at personal, organizational, and societal level.

Parts two and three are closely related and detail the leadership challenge for high-level executive positions and lower-level professional and technical jobs. Part II - The Relational Context of Work describes the day-to-day issues associated with the three basic kinds of organizational relationships: (1) Relations outside the chain of command, (2) relations with subordinates, and (3) relations with superiors.
The third part - The Life Cycle of Leadership - describes the leadership challenge at the various stages in a career inside a typical complex organization.

The final part of the book - Implications - summarizes recommendations on improving one's personal effectiveness at work. It also discusses the requirements to increase the supply of people who are capable of handling difficult leadership jobs. In addition, there is an acknowledgement which describes the roots of this book - it is based on seven different projects conducted during the 1970s and 1980s at Harvard Business School.

Yes, this is certainly a good book on this subject. It is based on strong academic research from one of the best business schools in the world. Main criticism that I have is that the books feels somewhat outdates since it was published in 1985. However, I feel that a little revision from the author would do wonders. There are some great checklists in this book, which are very realistic and can be used in real life. It is written in a very well organized manner and can be used as a handbook. I especially recommended it to all people new to management.

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading on the realities of being a leader today, November 24, 1998

By	Just another guy (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power and Influence (Hardcover)

Leadership in today's corporate environment is by and large not the command and control style of yesterday's corporate monoliths. Today's enlighted managers and employees have to understand that leadership means guiding and influencing without being able to direct and order. Readers who do not understand the difference will want to read this book. Readers who want to understand how to be better influencers and guiders will want to read this book.