Synopses & Reviews
How is power acquired? Are there strategies and tactics that people can learn which will increase their chances of becoming more powerful? Richard Brislin claims there are. In this work he reveals the unwritten rules for obtaining power, and presents an analysis of power as a tool in developing clout and in implementing decisions. This framework for looking at why and how certain groups have a greater understanding of the role of power in the worlds of business, education, human services, law, and politics integrates relevant scholarly literature with interviews of more than one hundred powerholders.
Focusing on the workplace and community environments, Brislin makes the reader more savvy about the role power plays in gaining support for proposals, in formulating policy, and in molding a career. He discusses the role of power in the personalities of people; why the power motive is stronger in some individuals than in others; the use of resources and resource exchange; ethics and the use of power; and strategies and tactics in the acquisition and application of power. He also suggests means to develop a sophisticated view of power as a tool in the service of leadership. Anyone interested in achieving more power, in holding his or her own against others in power, or in gaining insights into policy formulation and decision-making will find The Art of Getting Things Done to be particularly valuable.
Review
Brislin's ideas are highly instructive to diverse people who seek power in their organizations and their societies.Cultural Diversity at Work
Synopsis
How is power acquired? Are there strategies and tactics that people can learn which will increase their chances of becoming more powerful? Richard Brislin claims there are. In this work he reveals the unwritten rules for obtaining power, and presents an analysis of power as a tool in developing clout and in implementing decisions.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [237]-243) and index.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Paul Pedersen
Preface
Introduction: Thinking about Power
The Background of Power Acquisition: Politics, People, and Resources
Abilities and Skills for Power Acquisition
Strategies for Power Acquisition and Maintenance
Tactics in Power Acquisition and Maintenance: Gaining Support
Tactics in Power Acquisition and Maintenance: Dealing with Opponents
Developing a Knowledge of Resource Exchanges, Strategies, and Tactics
Summary: What the Sophisticated Know
Bibliography
Index