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Showing posts from May, 2026

Understanding and Applying Positional and Personal Power in Leadership

Introduction Power is a central part of leadership, organizational life, and social change. Whether people recognize it or not, power shapes who gets heard, who makes decisions, whose knowledge is valued, and how resources are distributed. In professional settings, power is often discussed negatively, as if it only involves control, domination, or authority over others. However, power can also be used constructively to build trust, share resources, reduce harm, promote equity, and create more sustainable outcomes. Effective leadership requires more than simply holding a title or having formal authority. Leaders must understand the different sources of power available to them and learn how to use those sources intentionally. Two especially important categories are  positional power  and  personal   power . Positional power comes from one’s formal role, title, authority, or control over resources. Personal power comes from credibility, expertise, relationships, charact...