Power Base and Leadership

British historian of late 19th century, (Acton, 1887) said that "power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely," suggesting that a person's sense of morality lessens as his or her power increases. Do you agree? Considering this idea, is it ethical for leaders to try to increase their power? Is all power the same or are there different power bases and different corresponding influence techniques? How does the use of power impact the leader-follower relationship?

Choose any organization and describe the power base(s) in that organization. What types of techniques do leaders use to influence team behavior in that organization? How does the leaders' approach affect team relationships? As a leader, how would you use power in your relationships with team members and why?