Power vs Force: Generating Engagement:

Are you getting the full buy-in from those you wish to influence? Are you generating engagement and a true sense of ownership from others for driving forward on missions, goals and key tasks? Are you a leader who uses Power or are you guilty of sliding into mistaking Force for Power?

Force, after all, is an extrinsic/external driver of behavior. It is the old carrot and stick (reward versus punishment) approach to motivation. As such it has a certain degree of power however, as research and insights over the past 30 years has demonstrated, it is but a candle compared to the Sun of what Power does to tap intrinsic/internal drivers of behavior.

I can tell you from direct experience, over four decades of working with individuals, families, communities, teams and organizations, that power invites engagement while force shuts it down. My realization was formalized two decades ago into, "Invitation, over the long run, is infinitely more powerful than coercion." If you doubt any part of this, simply take a look at Daniel Pink's book Drive that makes this case so compellingly or just look at the research over the past two decades from the Gallup Organization on what engagement means to the lifeblood of organizational performance.

When force is used it is either of the carrot or stick variety and it is marginal at best since you have to keep it up, increasing the rewards or intensifying the punishment. It eventually wears out but within this process creates resentment, anger, fear and low engagement or at best a sense of entitlement or dull acceptance and resignation. Power on the other hand continues to grow through a virtuous cycle of positive momentum, higher engagement and sense of feeling valued and appreciated.

So, what is power? In physics it simply means the ability to get work done. In human terms it is the expression of the capacity to get things done by relating to, working with and inviting others into performing at their best. You do this by showing recognition and appreciation for the fact that each person brings a unique set of gifts and talents to the table. You generate more power by gifting others with informed and effective coaching, delegating, celebrating and correcting key behaviors and interactions. You create high engagement by giving power away, only to find that more flows back to you as you empower others to do more than they had thought possible, freeing you up to focus on even more strategic and essential opportunities. Power is working creatively with others while encouraging and inviting the very best from them. It is the power of attribution tied to the focus of positive attention that leads to a sense of grace and personal power / efficacy.

Are you inviting others into creating a virtuous cycle of ownership and high engagement through the effective use of Power or are you guilty of mistakingly using force instead?