Calculating our informal power at work, Pt. 1
February 19, 2019
By Brian Maynor
It’s no surprise that job titles carry a weight of their own, but most people don’t realize we carry a second kind of power unrelated to our title; our informal power.
So what is informal power? Informal power is often defined as our ability to lead, direct or achieve results without an official leadership title or position. This power arises from our relationships with others and is quickly becoming a pivotal part of success in the modern workplace. By using our informal power we can mobilize resources, drive change and create value for both our company and ourselves.
The landscape of achieving success has changed as collaboration becomes the norm, and our formal title, responsibilities and power are often not enough to ensure success on their own.
Now is the time to capitalize on our informal power, or further develop it in the future. Using these steps we can calculate our current amount of informal power, and thus our added value:
1. First, list our top 10 contacts. These should be the ten people who help us get the most done, and can be internal or external to our organization.
2. Next, score each contact based on how much we depend upon them on a scale of 1 to 10. This isn’t as easy as it seems, because we need to keep an open mind and think of all the value they bring to us. For example advice, support, information and access are extremely valuable resources that often go unseen.
3. Then, reverse the process. Go through each contact and rate the amount of value we offer them. Yes this is subjective because we are the ones assigning value for others, but the goal is to see how easily we can be replaced by each person. It’s hard, but we need to be honest.
4. Finally, assess our lists. Here are a few most common red flags we need to look out for when reviewing our scores.
a. Lack of diversity among contacts. If everyone we listed works for the same company, team or performs the same function that is an indication of limited informal power because it shows we are not able to generate value outside of our formal position.
b. Unreciprocated value. If our contacts uniformly provide more value to us than we do to them it will be hard to sustain those relationships for long periods of time. It is also a reflection that they hold the power in the relationship.
c. Low scores overall. Having no high scores on either side of our list is an indication of transactional relationships, aka those sustained by quid pro quo. These relationships provide little value in raising our informal power quotient.
d. A small concentration of high value contacts. If our most valuable contacts are limited to a few people on our list then we need to cultivate our list and increase the value from everyone else. Otherwise if we lose those few key contacts we lose our power.
Conducting an informal power audit may feel odd at first, but it’s a powerful tool to show ourselves and others that our value is not limited solely to our formal roles. Sticking so rigidly to formalized expectations puts us at risk of being replaced by someone younger, cheaper, or smarter who will eventually come along.
I’m always excited to hear from you, so please email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
